NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY LEADER INFORMS DIPLOMATIC INSTITUTIONS ABOUT HIS BEING DEPRIVED OF POSSIBILITY TO SPEAK ON TV FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS

Noyan Tapan News Agency. Armenia
Nov 9 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. It is about one year and seven months
that Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) Party Chairman Aram Karapetian has
been deprived of the possibility to speak on TV and to share his and
his party’s viewpoints with the population in a live broadcast. This
was mentioned in the party Board’s letter to diplomatic institutions
functioning in RA.

The Nor Zhamanakner Board stressed that "the political decision not
to voice the name of the Nor Zhamanakner Party and its Chairman on TV
was made by RA President Robert Kocharian and Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian and the process of obstruction is controlled by Director of
RA National Security Service, Gorik Hakobian personally."

The approach of laying obstruction towards Aram Karapetian is
considered as strange and unacceptable, as according to the votes
received by him in the presidential elections, "he was officially
recognized the fourth and currently he heads a party with more
than 20 thousand members." The party Board pointed to both RA and
international laws "grossly broken by RA authorities who use the
above mentioned prohibition."