"MESSAGE" COMMENTATOR
Kima Yeghiazaryan

Hayots Ashkharh dailyi
Sept 7 2007
Armenia

What Rumors Leader Of People’s Path Hears?

What dispositions and approaches are noticed in the opposite camps
prior to the presidential elections? How do the pro-governmental and
pro-opposition parties get prepared for 2008 election campaign? In
what case can the former MP support the ex-President?

Leader of People’s Path Manuk Gasparyan was the guest of "Pastark"
club yesterday. He mainly touched upon the before mentioned questions.

Leader of People’s Path says, " The political situation becomes more
and more tensed. The situation is more problematic particularly
in the pro-government wing. "I have already said this and I will
repeat, at the moment no one knows who will be the pro-government
candidate. Because Robert Kocharyan hasn’t got the pledge whether
the new President will guarantee the position of the Prime Minister
for him. That is why Robert Kocharyan delayed the congress of the
Republican Party." Manuk Gasparyan commented on the "messages" from
the government "kitchen".

As for the processes in ARF, he said he doesn’t have "information"
but he can predict, " Dashnaktsutyun won’t nominate a candidacy. They
will support Serge Sargsyan. But they will demand from him to guarantee
more levers for them in future."

By now Manuk Gasparyan avoided giving any commentaries regarding Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and supporters-activists, waiting for the decision of
the ex-President.

But yesterday he couldn’t resist. "Even if Levon Ter-Petrosyan doesn’t
nominate his candidacy, the fact that his name is discussed is a
phenomenon in the policy and it will liven up the society. When he left
no one wanted even to hear his name. But at present at least 10% want
to hear. But it is a question whether they will vote for him or not.

He also said, " I will not impede, if Levon Ter-Petrosyan becomes
the united candidate of the opposition, but I will not support him."

But anyway he said he would feel very happy if the ex-President
nominates his candidacy. "I will be very happy if Levon Ter-Petrosyan
nominates his candidacy. Most of the officials in the pro-government
wing will slowly, on the sly, take sides with Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
because once he has raised them. They will be military leaders,
members of the government… Messages reach me," the speaker said.

"But will L.T.P. make M.Gasparyan feel happy?"

It is difficult to say, "Levon Ter-Petrosyan is a vigilant person.

He doesn’t listen only to his guys. He should see whether there is
social demand or not. If no then he will not be nominated."

Touching upon the announcement of the vice-leader of "National
Unity", saying that it is not excluded that L.T.P. will support
Artashes Geghamyan’s candidacy, leader of People’s Path assured,
" Levon will never support anyone because he never considers anyone
higher than him." In general he confessed, "I fail to understand
Geghamyan’s recent messages."

Manuk Gasparyan has conducted a personal survey to clarify how many
votes will the opposition leaders get should the presidential elections
take place on the coming Sunday. " Some 6-7 people will obtain
2-3%, 1-2 people – 3-4%. They are Vazgen Manukyan, Aram Karapetyan,
Tigran Karapetyan, Artashes Geghamyan, and Stepan Demirchyan, Raffi
Hovhannisyan, and Arthur Baghdasaryan will obtain 3-4%. Though after
the recent majoritarian elections Raffi Hovhannisyan spoiled his
rating, but he can get even 8%," the speaker introduced the results
of the "social survey".

Later reminding that he has worked as a chief accountant for many
years, he started calculating, "If we assemble the votes of those
seven and add Levon Petrosyan’s votes to them we will get 21-22%. But
Serge Sargsyan, with his administrative levers can definitely obtain
this 22%. How are they going to struggle and even to appear at the
second stage? Serge Sargsyan will win an absolute victory at the
first stage. That is why better for those seven people not to waste
their money.

By the way, based on M. Gasparyan’s calculations opposition leaders
will spend not less than 25-30 million dollars.