WHO RAFFI WILL RUN FOR ELECTION WITH

Lragir.am
17 June 06

The Heritage Party led by Raffi Hovannisian views its participation
in the parliamentary election of 2007 from a scientific angle. Vardan
Khachatryan, the secretary of the Heritage Party, told June 17 at
the Azdak Club that the political party is seriously considering to
run for election individually or in alliance.

"So we have seriously considered both options. By saying seriously I
mean a scientific study. I will not hide that the public rating of the
Heritage Party is high. I rely on the survey of the Institute of Gelap
because they guarantee objectivity, it is not an organization where
surveys are conducted on order," says Vardan Khachatryan. According
to him, the Center of Gelap gave a rating of 74 percent for Raffi
Hovannisian. It should be noted, however, that Gelap may have lied
because several days ago Artashes Geghamyan announced that the same
Gelap had given a rating of 57 percent for him. Whereas this is
impossible in math, even in simple arithmetic.

If Hovannisian has 74 percent, Geghamyan could have only 26, or
if Geghamyan has 57, Raffi could have only 43. It is also possible,
however, that Gelap does not lie, and Raffi and Artashes lie on behalf
of Gelap.

At any rate, the format of participation in the election must be
determined by the will of the public, thinks Vardan Khachatryan,
saying that there must be a public demand to run for election
individually or in alliance. At any rate, if a front is supposed
to form, it must be as comprehensive as possible and including the
forces, which will be accepted by people, says the secretary of
the Heritage Party. Vardan Khachatryan declines to say who their
allies will be, because the survey is not over. He repeated that the
prospect of allying with Orinats Yerkir depends on the activities
of this political party. Vardan Khachatryan says they do not want to
act as a judge, they will simply be following the activities of the
Orinats Yerkir. If they favor public interests, Vardan Khachatryan
says there is no problem. For an alliance with the "old-established"
opposition, Vardan Khachatryan declines to give names. "You see the
range of negotiations is rather wide, and there is nothing definite. We
have not reached the point where we can name definite organizations –
potential allies. In fact, a process is underway, and we are always
ready to consolidate the sphere, not to place our ambitions in pride
of place, but consolidate the sphere to revive hope among pubic."