IN CONVICTION OF HOVHANNES MARGARIAN, LEADER OF "OYP" IS IN CONFORMITY WITH STANDARDS OF COMMON CANDIDATE FOR POST OF PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Jul 24, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The common candidate nominated by the
Armenian opposition forces in the presidential elections should be
young, educated, should have experience and certain achievements in the
political field, as well as be accepted and respected by people. This
statement was made by Hovhannes Margarian, a member of the "Orinats
Yerkir" ("Country of Law") faction of the National Assembly, at the
July 24 press conference. He added that Artur Baghdasarian, the leader
of the "Orinats Yerkir" party, corresponds to all these standards. At
the same time Hovhannes Margarian mentioned that the "Orinats Yerkir"
party is ready to conduct discussions and consultations with other
opposition forces concerning the question of the common candidate.

In response to the question of what other candidature can be put
forward by the "Orinats Yerkir" party in the presidential elections,
besides Artur Baghdasarian, H. Margarian said that it is early to
speak about it and that he does not want to make previsions. "Being
a public and open party, we will inform society about our decisions
in the future," he said. According to the representative of the
"Country of Law" party, there are political figures in the home
political field at present, who, irrespective of the fact that they
"have not got a chance to receive even 1% of the votes", are making
pretentious statements."

Touching upon the conversations about the probable nomination of
Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first RA President, Hovhannes Margarian
mentioned that he has not heard any statement about that from the
first President in person as yet. Therefore, as he concluded, "it
is untimely to speak" about the candidature of Levon Ter-Petrosian
"in a more detailed way" at present.