ZHARANGUTIUN PARTY’S SPOKESPERSON HOPES FOR CONSOLIDATIONOF OPPOSITION ON THRESHOLD OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On the threshold of the presidential
elections the opposition should do its best to exclude a recurrence
of the situation existing before the parliamentary elections,
which can be characterized "as dispersal of material, human, and
political resources, consequently, also as dispersal of opposition’s
electorate." Hovsep Khurshudian, the Spokesperson of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) party, stated in his interview with a Noyan Tapan
correspondent. In his words, "to go to the presidential elections
by the format the opposition had at the parliamentary elections is
a game in advance known to be a loss, to have tens of candidates for
presidency means to miss the chance of power shift in the country."

While, as H. Khurshudian defined, pro-governmental parties in spite
of their having different orientations and positions are much more
consolidated than the opposition. "This consolidation is especially
shown before the threat of loss of power when the authorities realize
that they may lose the possibility to use state resources for their
personal goals and first of all for getting rich." In H. Khurshudian’s
words, today the most part of the power elite is oriented in favor of
a single candidate for presidency, the Prime Minister, Serge Sargsian.

H. Khurshudian called some colleagues in the opposition camp to stop
their destructive activity and be engaged in serious preparation
for the elections. "Mutual discrediting, including reproaches to
their colleagues who won the elections, will only demonstrate the
opposition’s being immature and will result in the opposition’s
not having a candidate for presidency who will be an alternative
to the authorities," he stated. H. Khurshudian said that political
consultations are proceeding among some opposition forces at present.