AS RA PRESIDENT ESTIMATES, PREELECTORAL CAMPAIGN PROCEEDS RATHER CALMLY AND IN CIVILIZED WAY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "The preelectoral campaign proceeds
rather calmly and in a civilized way," RA President Robert Kocharian
stated at the April 27 meeting with lecturers and students of Yerevan
State University. He expressed satisfaction that political forces
taking part in the preelectoral process, with the exception of two
or three forces, refuse radical extremist slogans. "It is obvious
that our public does not admit aggressive manifestations, moods of
colored revolutions," he said.

R. Kocharian emphasized that the opposition has all possibilities
for criticism, the preelection meetings are held and there is no
obstacle by any governmental body. And if there are such, in the
President’s words, the government will immediately undertake measures
for liquidating them.

In RA President’s words, the authorities have rather good start
opportunities in the preelection campaign, and the stable economic
growth, as well as softening of social tension is a basis for this.

R. Kocharian expressed bewilderment in connection with overestimating
their abilities by political forces taking part in the electoral
campaign.

According to the statements made by those forces, in total, 380% votes
will be given in favor of them, at that, without RPA and Bargavach
Hayastan. The President said that this is done for a single purpose:
not gaining the promised percents, these forces without fail will speak
about falsified elections in the future and the issue of legitimacy
of authorities will be touched upon all the time in the five years
following the elections.

In connection with interim reports of international monitoring
missions R. Kocharian said that Armenia has objections in two issues
of principle. In particular, it is mentioned in the reports that
only representatives of parties making majority in RA parliament take
ruling posts in electoral commissions.

In the President’s words, this is not prohibited by the law. The
second objection relates to active coverage of activity of government
consisting mainly from members of RPA, including activity of RA Prime
Minister. RA President is categorically against this objection. In his
opinion, every weak the government convenes sittings on 35-40 issues
on agenda, therefore, even having some administrative resources,
its cannot take a full-value part in the preelection campaign.