SERZH SARKISIAN AND LEVON TER-PETROSIAN TO BECOME MAIN PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS: ANM CHAIRMAN

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: A senior member of the former ruling
Armenian National Movement (ANM) said today the main contenders in
the next year’s presidential election will be ex-president Levon
Ter-Petrosian and the current prime minister Serzh Sarkisian.

Speaking at a news conference, Ararat Zurabian, chairman of the
governing board of the ANM, said the struggle will be between these
two candidates, because they both enjoy strong public support.

Zurabian said an ARF candidate may also become a serious rival in
the race for presidency.

Ararat Zurabian downplayed speculations that the outcome of the
election is hinged on external actors.

"External actors’ impact is big when the candidates are puppets,
which is not the case in Armenia,’ he said.

Zurabian rebuked major opposition groups for failing to unite and
nominate a single candidate. He added that some of these groups will
be in Levon Ter-Petrosian’s team, but declined to name them saying
these parties will have themselves announce their support to the
first president of the post-Soviet Armenia.

Although Ter-Petrosian has made little indication that he will join
the presidential race, Zurabian said there are no doubts about it.