ARAM Z. SARGSIAN RELIES ON CONSOLIDATION OF OPPOSITION FORCES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 28, 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. "I am an active supporter of the
opposition parties running for the presidential elections with a common
candidate: thanks to this consolidation we will manage to change the
regime, which becomes stronger and stronger day by day and is based
on arbitrariness," Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) party and the ex-Prime Minister of Armenia, stated in his
interview to a Noyan Tapan correspondent.

In his words, the consolidation of the opposition, in its turn, will
contribute to the maximum participation of the people in political
processes, which is the only possibility to achieve changes in the
country.

"I have been in power and I am well-aware of its resources and, in
particular, of the fact that it is always possible to struggle and
to defeat democracy with brute force, if the authorities so wish,"
A. Sargsian stated.

In his opinion, the participation of a great number of people in
political actions will make those giving orders to use force think.

At the same time, as the Hanrapetutiun party’s leader said, the whole
opposition field cannot unite, as some opposition candidates have
already declared their intention to run for the presidential elections.

Aram Sargsian said that political consultations about nominating a
common candidate are being held at present with participation of a
number of opposition parties. "These are, in particular, parties,
the leaders of which have not declared yet their being candidates
for presidency, and at the same time, these political forces take a
serious part and seriously influence the political processes."

A. Sargsian emphasized that Armenian society attaches the most
importance to the presidential elections considering that the
situation in the country can change thanks to this or that
personality. "Our society does not attach a special importance
either to the parliamentary or the local self-government elections
considering these bodies adjunct of executive power and, unfortunately,
this corresponds to reality."