DEMOCRATIC PATH NOT TO ENDORSE EX-PRESIDENT’S POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL BID

ARMENPRESS
Sep 6, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: A former parliament member Manuk
Gasparian said his Democratic Path party would not endorse ex-president
Levon Ter-Petrosian if he decides to contest the 2008 presidential
election. Gasparian, however, added that the party would not hamper
his possible bid either.

Speaking to a news conference today Manuk Gasparian said only
two members of his party’s governing board say they would like
Ter-Petrosian to be nominated.

Manuk Gasparian then argued in favor of a single opposition candidate
saying this should be the prime task for all opposition groups.

"Today there are 3-4 opposition leaders who would at best garner 3-4
percent of votes if contest the poll separately. It will be also a
waste of money,’ he said, adding that he has calculated that the
opposition candidates will have to spend about $25-30 million on
their election campaigns.

He said Arthur Baghdasarian of the Orinats Yerkir and Raffi
Hovhanesian of the Heritage party have the best chances among
opposition candidates.