THE SYSTEM MUST BE EREDICATED

A1+
[04:18 pm] 28 November, 2006

"None of the Armenian residents believes that the upcoming elections
will be free, fair and transparent as nothing has changed. The
situation is the same; no one has been punished; the confidence
towards the authorities was not regained", Vazgen Manoukyan, leader
of National Democratic Union, announced in Pastark Club today.

"When the authorities claim that the elections will be fair it means
that the election frauds will not be so much apparent. The authorities
have already proved that no one can win them.

The task of the Opposition must be the combat against the existing
system, against the Kocharyan-Sargsyan alliance, "the whole system
must be eradicated". Mr. Manoukyan finds his participation in
the forthcoming elections senseless if nothing changes. Certain
oppositional forces might have separate seats in the parliament but
this will bring no serious changes for the country.

"The Opposition was taught a good lesson during the fabricated
referendum a year ago", said Vazgen Manoukyan in answer to our question
whether the Opposition gained anything from the 2006 Constitution
referendum and in connection with the failure of the actions of
the Opposition.

Vazgen Manoukyan represented his opinion on this score. "Taking
into consideration the fact that 80 – 90 percent of the public were
inclined to boycott the referendum, it was useless going to marzes and
organizing rallies. They should have supported the boycott instead".

Vazgen Manoukyan claims that the Opposition lacks organisational
skills. Of course, they face financial problems as well but they
don’t treat the organizational work seriously.

Asked the question by A1+ why the Opposition doesn’t unite instead
of dividing their resources, Mr. Manoukyan noted that the power is a
huge pyramid, a state body, arranged by the current authorities and
it is very difficult to form a contradicting pyramid.

By the way, Mr. Manoukyan is ready the join other forces with the
same ideology in the foreign policy and the Karabakh issue.

As for the movement initiated by Raffi Hovannisian and Vazgen
Manoukyan, he claims that it is an alliance welcomes everyone
struggling for just, free and transparent elections. The alliance is
aimed at establishing the country of law, at protecting human rights
so that people might be able to change the power via elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress