WILL RFE/RL’S FATE BE DECIDED IN SEPTEMBER?

A1+
[03:48 pm] 20 July, 2007

"NKR authorities are elected only through elections," the Republican
Party secretary Samvel Nikoyan told press conference today. He
congratulated Bako Sahakyan on the victory and voiced hope that
Bako Sahakyan would do his utmost for the country’s independence and
future well-being.

Samvel Nikoyan highlighted the conduct of elections and considered
them an important political event and a step forward to independence.

"In my opinion Nagorno-Karabakh has taken the right path," Samvel
Nikoyan said. He declined to comment on international organisations’
statement according to which the international community doesn’t
recognise NKR independence.

According to the RPA secretary, the RA Electoral Code will be
subjected to changes before the presidential elections. The issues
related to the state fund, its transparency, mechanisms and control
must be reconsidered. Moreover, civil initiatives shouldn’t nominate
candidates. They must run for presidency on their own.

Samvel Nikoyan thinks that the "race" will be rather tense as there
will be numerous candidates both from the extra parliamentarian
echelons and from the opposition.

In answer to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s possible nomination Samvel Nikoyan
said, "People want him to return to politics. The question is whether
he wants it himself."

To the question whether the National Assembly will consider the bills
"On Television and Rado" in September, he said "It is upon the RA
Government and the bill author to decide. Once they wish the NA will
pass the law."