TER-PETROSYAN’S MEETINGS WILL COME OUT OF ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT’S FORMAT

Lragir
Aug 17 2007
Armenia

The notion of public demand is highly conventional, said the leader
of the board of the All-Armenian Movement in a news conference on
August 17 at the Pastark Club, answering the question of reporters
whether the All-Armenian Movement has measured public demand for
the nomination. "When Karen Demirchyan was named president in 1998,
public demand was not mentioned. Nobody could forecast the developments
and the situation," says the leader of the board of the All-Armenian
Movement. Ararat Zurabyan thinks a similar situation will occur if
Levon Ter-Petrosyan is nominated. Meanwhile, Ararat Zurabyan is all but
sure that Ter-Petrosyan will be nominated. "There is public demand. No
candidate is mentioned definitely by the society but there is public
demand for a change of government, to have another political figure at
the wheel of the government. I think the public demand that exists,
and we all are aware and we all know, the Armenian society does not
like this government and does not think this is the team that should
rule Armenia over the upcoming 5-10 years. And I think, as to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, this process is underway," Ararat Zurabyan says.

He stated that the All-Armenian Movement will nominate Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. As to Ter-Petrosyan’s personal attitude, it will
become known when the time of registration of candidate comes, says
the leader of the board of the All-Armenian Movement. "As to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s likelihood to participate in the political process,
I am deeply convinced he is," Ararat Zurabyan says.

He underlines that most political figures have stated likelihood to run
in the election but only the rumors about Ter-Petrosyan’s nomination
aroused a fuss. "And considering his importance, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
must break the silence in the political sphere, which is happening,"
Ararat Zurabyan says. As to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s visits and meetings
in the regions, Ararat Zurabyan says those are related to the party’s
affairs.

"The activists of the regional organizations of the All-Armenian
Movement had a few meetings with Ter-Petrosyan. In the regions of
Aragatsotn, Shirak, Lori, and the meetings will continue. I think
it means something," Ararat Zurabyan says. According to him, nobody
will believe him if he says Ter-Petrosyan’s meetings had a purpose
other than what the reporters suggest. "It is obvious that with
the presidential election coming up, the members of the team meet,
discuss the moods, try to evaluate the possibilities. And it is
natural," Ararat Zurabyan says. According to Ararat Zurabyan, during
the meetings nobody said that Ter-Petrosyan will not be nominated.

Meanwhile, many spoke for the nomination, Ararat Zurabyan says. "A
number of meetings are expected. The representatives of the
All-Armenian Movement will participate, as well as I think the format
will be enlarged, in a very short period. There is a tendency, and
there will be a number of other meetings," says Ararat Zurabyan. He
says, however, the meetings are not part of an election campaign,
meanwhile, in the period of nomination and the election campaign
Ter-Petrosyan will have broader meetings and rallies. "And so on,
and so forth," Ararat Zurabyan says.