DASHNAKTSUTIUN STANDS READY TO USE ITS ENTIRE POTENTIAL
Editorial

Yerkir.am
September 08, 2006

It is not a secret that only elections based on international standards
can ensure the foundation of election traditions.

But there also is another truth: elections only unearth the
situation that exists before the elections. So, the stronger the
democratic traditions, the better chances for the people to form its
government. Therefore, holding elections without providing people
with proper democratic tools and mechanisms would not yield desirable
outcome. Unfortunately, during all the previous elections, the tools
and mechanisms were not sufficient, and those elections were harshly
criticized both inside the country and abroad.

The Dashnaktsutiun, concerned with these realities, has offered
initiatives that include reduction of influence of non-political forces
on political processes, improvement of the Election Code, cooperation
in election commissions, ensuring the normal election process, and
most importantly, setting up a joint mechanism of registering election
fraud. We continue to believe that forces interested in the future of
the country, regardless of the camp they are, should put aside their
partisan and factional interests and doubts and unite for this goal.

Even now, we are sure that those initiatives are crucial and can
be applied.

We again are making this specific suggestion to all political parties
preparing for the elections, and this time hope to get wider support.

The upcoming elections are unprecedented. The National Assembly
will acquire a serious role in the government under the amended
constitution, and the parliamentary and presidential elections have
never been so interrelated and have never borne such significance
for the country’s future. Therefore, holding free and fair elections
is the only safe means for overcoming this period without losses
and turmoil. Undoubtedly, the picture of the newly elected National
Assembly is to determine future developments.

The outcome of the presidential election, in turn, depends on the
results of the parliamentary election and whether it is held in
accordance with international standards.

This way or another, the government formed in the upcoming election
will have to carry out fundamental reforms aimed at furthering
democracy, settling the Karabakh conflict in Armenia’s favor,
neutralizing internal and external security threats.

The Dashnaktsutiun stands ready to add its entire potential to that
of the healthy forces of this country in order to overcome this
twenty-year period successfully and without losses.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress