"OPPOSITIONAL AUDIENCE IS DISTORTED"

A1+
[05:49 pm] 07 September, 2007

REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS ITS OWN GALLUP

"Presently there is no alternative to Serge Sargsyan.

We will have a clear-cut victory," announced the leader of the
Republican faction Karen Karapetyan.

Everybody realizes the Republicans’ victory, therefore, the candidates
for presidency find Serge Sargsyan their main rival at the 2008
presidential elections.

A1+ asked Karen Karapetyan to enumerate Serge Sargsyan’s virtues as
a presidential candidate.

Karapetyan pointed out Serge Sargsyan’s viability in the main.

Karen Karapetyan stated that Serge Sargsyan worked both in times of
war and peace in our country and proved that he is viable. "Everything
should be viewed in the normal course of events judging by the person’s
behavior. People sometimes refer to themselves as leaders. In my
opinion, a leader is the one who enjoys the real support of people,"
Karen Karapetyan said.

In answer to the question if Serge Sargsyan’s image will not be stained
by the fact that he was the Minister of National Security during
the October 27 parliamentary carnage but was unable to prevent the
terrorist attack, Karen Karapetyan said, "Even the security services
of such a rich country as the United States were unable to prevent
the September 11 terrorist act."

According to Karen Karapetyan he possesses data from the Gallup center
which give a high popular rating to Serge Sargsyan. He said this when
the reporters asked if the Republican Party worries about the results
of a Gallup poll released in the media recently that their candidate
ranks four among likely candidates.

"I can provide the results to you one of these days.

According to the Gallup Institute, Serge Sargsyan is given a 23
percent popular rating. He also has a secondary 7 percent. In other
words, if the candidates were these, people would vote for Serge
Sargsyan. If we have the electorate who mention other candidates
first and Serge Sargsyan as their second candidate, the facts are
weighty in my opinion."

Then Karapetyan reminded that in the parliamentary election the
Republican Party set out with a low rating but they moved ahead due
to their effective work.

The Republican faction leader is concerned over the opposition’s
dissolution. "I wish there were two or even three poles joined on the
basis of the same ideology, not against but for the sake of something.

And I wished they appeared to the public with their programs
and approaches so that the society could make a choice," Karen
Karapetyan says. He underlines that judging by the statements of all
the political figures no poles will emerge. "I think four or maybe
five opposition candidates will be put up. It means oppositional
audience is distorted, and at the same time it means it is not clear
whether these oppositional voters will vote for them or not," Karen
Karapetyan concluded.