DASHNAKTSUTYUN NEEDS PLACE IN NEXT GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN PRESIDENCY

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

The race for presidency in now underway, which had started before the
parliamentary election and is giving us no surprise, said the leader
of the Christian Democratic Party Khosrov Harutiunyan who was hosted
at the Hayatsk club on October 2. He thinks Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
likelihood to return is not a surprise. "Everything complies with the
logic of the election process. The main candidates are now outlining.

We may even not avoid the word favorite. The favorites are outlining,"
Khosrov Harutiunyan says, who mentioned that the society will probably
witness a tense struggle.

Among favorites Khosrov Harutiunyan mentioned Serge Sargsyan, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and Vazgen Manukyan. As to Dashnaktsutyun, the leader
of the Christian Democratic Party thinks the impression is that the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun is seeking for a favorable capacity for political
bargain later rather than the post of president. "In fact, the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun has some stable resource, a stable electorate, and
it will have some role, but Dashnaktsutyun’s, I beg your pardon,
presidential games are aimed to get political dividends, place in
the next government, strengthen their position rather that to have
a real president. I am sure that Dashnaktsutyun will eventually be
pursuing this goal," Khosrov Harutiunyan says.

As to the Christian Democratic Party’s participation in the
parliamentary election, Khosrov Harutiunyan said they will not be
naming president, and supporting other presidential candidates will
depend on their programs and approaches.