SERZH SARGSYAN’S CANDIDACY STILL "HANGING FROM AIR"

Panorama.am
17:18 16/08/2007

Speaking about the presidential elections at Friday Club today,
Chairman of People’s Way Party (JUK) Manuk Gasparyan said: "I want free
elections in Armenia without calling in an oligarchic and a criminal
force, ", also saying he is ready to congratulate any winner whoever
wins in case of free elections "even if that is Serzh Sargsyan."

Replying to the question who the candidate from authorities in power
will be, he mentioned: "Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy is still "hanging
from the air" because Robert Kocharyan needs that and HHK assembly
failed mainly by the assignment of Kocharyan."

JUK chairman explained his this opinion saying Serzh Sargsyan has
not given answer to President Kocharyan’s question what he will do
in case Sargsyan becomes a president – "will Robert Kocharyan become
a prime minister or not?"

In Manuk Gasparyan’s opinion, if no answer is given to Robert
Kocharyan’s question on becoming a prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan’s
candidacy "may even not be proposed." Asked who may be the candidate
from the authorities in power, Manuk Gasparyan said according to his
subjective opinion that may be either Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
or President Staff Head Armen Gevorgyan.

Speaking about the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, JUK chairman
expressed his assurance that eventually they will not propose their
candidate and will support Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy in case Kocharyan
"approves" that.