RA DM CONSIDERS STATEMENTS OF SOME OPPOSITIONAL FIGURES ABOUT "PERSECUTION BY POWER STRUCTURES" RIDICULOUS

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006

"The statements of some oppositional figures, of the "New Times"
party " leader, Aram Karapetyan, in particular, about persecutions by
the power structures ridiculous", RA Defense Minister, the Chairman
of the Board of the Republican party of Armenia, Serzh Sarkissyan,
told the journalists today.

"It is very difficult to say what hazard may these people pose to put
pressure upon them. Perhaps, they try to be self- affirmed in such a
way. These figures have a loose tongue, you know, the situation is
not such it was 5, 7 or 10 years ago, when a head could be broken
for one word", S. Sarkissyan said. Talking of the opposition’s
intention to allocate its candidates in 41 majority districts, the
Minister noted it is a good plan but hardly implemented, since it
will be difficult for the opposition to find so many leaders. "There
are two-three people in the whole opposition who could win per the
majority system", the Minister said, however, he did not call the
names of these oppositionists.