STRUGGLE TO HEAT UP

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[06:13 pm] 16 April, 2007

more images On April 16 the Friday Club hosted Khosrov Harutyunyan,
Khachatur Sukiasyan and Tadevos Hovanisyan running for parliament
from electoral district 10.

The debate was between Khosrov Harutyunyan and Khachatur
Sukiasyan. Tadevos Hovanisyan was passive and silent. He says he is
an economist and does not deal with political issues. "Politics is
the business of the government," he said.

When the reporters told him that the National Assembly is the
legislative branch of the government and a political body, he said
he will have his stance on serious political matters but in any case
"I try to stay away from politics".

Khosrov Harutyunyan and Khachatur Sukiasyan first presented their
election programs. Khosrov Harutyunyan commits to working towards
building "a country with sustainable security, dynamic development,
competitive democracy in 15 years time, which will be involved in
the European economic, political and security systems."

In his opinion, the period of transition has ended, and it is necessary
to launch the second stage of economic and political reforms, battle
corruption and black economy, ensure fair and effective distribution
of income.

Khachatur Sukiasyan does not think the transition period is
over. According to him, as long as our quality of life is not upgraded
to the European quality of life, we live in a period of transition.

Khosrov Harutyunyan disagreed and stated that the period of
transition is over because independence, freedoms and free economy
are irreversible.

Further on, Khachatur Sukiasyan and Khosrov Harutyunyan tried
to define the borderline between businessman-politician or
politician-businessman. In Khachatur Sukiasyan’s words, there are
officials who are not running businesses but after leaving office
they have different businesses.

Khosrov Harutyunyan maintains that people believe that a businessman
runs for the National Assembly to get more possibilities and promote
their interests.

According to Khosrov Harutiunyan, the laws adopted by the parliament
between 1999 and 2006 with considerable representation of businessmen
in the parliament provided more favorable conditions for businesses.

As for Tadevos Hovanisyan’s candidature, Mr. Harutyunyan claims
that the struggle will heat up in the electoral district as Tadevos
Hovanisyan formerly worked for Khachatur Sukiasyan.