SURVEY: EX-SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MOST POPULAR POLITICAL FIGURE OF ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 21 2006

YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. Ex-Speaker of the RA National Assembly,
leader of "Orinats Yerkir" party Arthur Baghdasaryan is the most
popular political figure of Armenia, according to the Internet
survey held by the "Election Systems" Armenian center among 10thsd
respondents.

The survey, held between June 20 and July 20, shows that Baghdasaryan’s
popularity rating makes 27%, reducing by 2 points, against his previous
rating, as of May 20 – June 20 with participation of 9812 people.

The second comes President of the ALM Media-Holding, Chairman of
the National Party Tigran Karapetyan, who has 26% sympathy of the
respondents (earlier – 28%).

Leader of Heritage oppositional party, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs
Raffi Hovhannisyan is the third, with his 16% rating (1% slide).

Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan, leader of coalition
Republican Party of Armenia holds his stabile 4th place (earlier 13%
respondents sympathized him).

Leader of National Democratic party, oppositional deputy of the RA
National Assembly Shavarsh Kocharyan is the fifth among the leaders,
with his 6% (2% rating growth).

Following 5 leaders, comes Gagik Tsarukyan, big businessman and
Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (5% like a
moth ago), and Aram Sargsyan, leader of Republic oppositional party,
ex-Prime Minister of Armenia is the 7th, according to the survey (1%
– again without any change).

During the survey none of the respondents voted for the RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan, Vice- Speaker of the National Assembly Vahan
Hovhannisyan, head of Justice oppositional parliamentary faction
Stepan Demirchyan, Secretary of the same faction Viktor Dallakyan,
deputy Arshak Sadoyan, leader of National Unity Artashes Geghamyan, as
well as for leader of the United Labor Party faction Gurgen Arsenyan,
Chairman of the Liberal-Progressive party Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and
leader of "New Times" party Aram Karapetyan. S.P.-0–