ACCORDING TO ARTSVIK MINASIAN, IT IS NOT COMPULSORY AT ALL THAT
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE NOMINATED BY ARFD IS MEMBER OF ARF DASHNAKTSUTIUN

YEREVAN, JULY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The ARF Dashnaktsutiun cannot be
considered as a party backing the authorities as it does not always
support the bills presented by the authorities. This statement was
made by Artsvik Minasian, a member of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun faction
of the National Assembly, during the debate held on July 20. According
to him, Dashnaktsutiun is the opposition in terms of the fact that
it has its own position concerning every question. The current
political attitude of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun faction, according to
Armen Minasian, is characterized as "left pro-central" in politology.

Touching upon the 2008 presidential elections, the MP declared:
"It is not obligatory at all that the ARFD candidate is a member of
the ARF Dashnaktsutiun faction." Armen Minasian added that the ARF
Dashnaktsutiun is simply obliged to offer an alternative to people. "We
cannot wholly return to the institute for the defence of one person,"
the MP of the Dashnaktsutiun faction mentioned.

He also added that the ARF Dashnaktsutiun supported the candidature
of Bako Sahakian in the presidential elections of the Republic of
Armenia, taking into consideration the situation created in Artsakh.