START OF ARF PRE-ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED ON YEREVAN AZNAVOUR SQUARE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. At the threshold of the May 12
parliamentary elections the ARF announced start of its pre-electoral
campaign on the Yerevan Charles Aznavour square. As Armen Rustamian,
a representative of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body, the Chairman of
the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations mentioned, the ARF,
participating uninterruptedly for the 3rd time in the NA elections
by the proportional electoral system, the previous time as well held
the first event of its campaign on the same square. In his words,
it has its symbolism: the party may meet with the people with open
forehead, responding for what it did and did not do.

In A. Rustamian’s words, the coming elections are unprecendeted ones:
"we shall really solve the issue of formation of the authorities,"
and the most important thing is to pass this goal to the people. In
his words, the ARF has a task to inspire people with confidence of
safety and security what is missing at present. It was also mentioned
that sensitive stability existed in Armenia that’s why the party kept
itself restrained in many issues.

ARF Bureau member, NA Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian in his turn
welcame the new period of time which, in his opinion, will open on
May 12. In his words, the authorities at present "have many obliged
friends" but the people must turn its face upon the authorities to be
formed as a result of the elections. He also mentioned that "there
are no invented, false, sham biographies" in the ARF proportional
list in which, by the way, non-ARF members are involved, either.

NA ARF faction head Hrayr Karapetian re-affirmed that the party has
always been for the principle of the parliament’s being formed by
100% proportional electoral system, but had to compromise. He also
reminded the voters that there are people who strive for appearing
at the parliament at any cost to insure their business, to make laws
serve their interests, and that means that it will not be possible
to solve social problems tomorrow. H. Karapetian assured that the ARF
is decisive in the issue of continuing its numerous half-implemented
programs.

"We expect hard work to win together," ARF Bureau representative Hrant
Margarian stated. He assured that the ARF will not give electoral
bribe and he himself is sure that the party will have the people’s
vote as the ARF was not identified with the bad and kept its face.

Patriotic songs and ones dedicated to the ARF were performed after
each of the speakers’ speeches, and the event was completed by a
concert program.