ARF DASHNAKTSUTIUN DOES NOT ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO POSSIBLE NOMINATION OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN IN FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 6, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. ARF Dashnaktsutiun does not
attach a great importance to the possible nomination of Levon
Ter-Petrosian, the first RA President, in the 2008 presidential
elections. This statement was made by Artashes Shahbazian, the
Secreatry of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun parliamentarian faction, during
the meeting with journalists held on September 6. In his words, if,
however, Levon Ter-Petrosian is nominated, the members of the ARF
Dashnaktsutiun will not get excited, will not feel happy or unhappy,
since they do not regard the letter to be the main rival of their
candidate. Commenting on the conversations concerning the return of
the former president into big politics, Artashes Shahbazian mentioned
that all that has been organized by the Armenian National Movement
party through pro-ANM forces and media, so as "to check the response
of the people with regard to that idea."

In the words of the NA MP, if Levon Ter-Petrosian is currently
perceived as the first RA President, he will be perceived as a defeated
candidate after the elections in case he is nominated.