ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER SET TO BID FOR PRESIDENCY IN 2008

Mediamax news agency
30 May 07

Yerevan, 30 May: Head of the [opposition] National Democratic Union
(NDU) Vazgen Manukyan said in Yerevan today that he will be nominated
for the presidential election in Armenia in 2008, as "he sees no
other worthy candidate from the opposition".

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, Vazgen Manukyan said
that "[Prime Minister] of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan is busy actively
distributing portfolios and positions, as he counts on winning in
the very first round of the presidential election".

"I am sincerely surprised at the naivety of the parties which
participate in this game," the NDU leader said.

Vazgen Manukyan admitted that he is "content with the fact that he
is not an MP anymore".

"I have been an MP for 17 years, but I took my presence in the
parliament with much enthusiasm only in the 1990s. When I see who
entered the parliament following the results of the latest elections,
I realize that it would be a shame for me to be among them," the NDU
leader said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress