A1+

ARE BABAYAN AND TER-PETROSYAN STILL AT LOGGERHEADS?
[08:26 pm] 05 October, 2007

`All efforts to dissolve the alliance between the Armenian
Liberal-Democratic Party (HRAK) and the `Alliance’ Party (DK) are
doomed to failure,’ DK leader Samvel Babayan told A1+.

According to Samvel Babayan, the idea of an alliance occurred to them
before the parliamentary elections. `We wanted to enter the National
Assembly with the HRAK and the National Revival Party (AVK).
Unfortunately, the AVK board changed its decision at the last moment
and joined Stepan Demirchyan.’

`I take Bazeyan’s decision quite naturally. Obviously, the opposition
based on ideological unity of three forces could bring no changes to
the Parliament. After the parliamentary elections we seriously
pondered over programme, ideological and legislative issues and
entered into an alliance.

In reply to A1+’s question regarding the alliance of HRAK and the
Constitutional Right Union (SIM), Mr. Babayan said, `I was once
accused of the SIM’s split though I was not guilty of it. Just on the
contrary, I did my best to improve the situation.’

Samvel Babayan didn’t rule out their alliance with the HRAK before the
presidential election. `Everything is possible. Nevertheless, I
wouldn’t like the alliance to be formal.’

To the question whether the HRAK or the DK will support Ter-Petrosyan
at the presidential election, the DK leader said, `In 1997 we were at
loggerheads with the Pan-Armenian Movement (HHSh) over the Karabakh
conflict. Any collaboration is ruled out unless Levon Ter-Petrosyan
presents his stance towards the Karabakh issue,’ he concluded.