Lragir, Armenia
Oct 19 2007
DASHNAKTSUTYUN DISBELIEVES PUBLIC POLLS
`In describing the state of the election system in Armenia I can say
that people may support one force, but the outcome of the election
may bring another force to power,’ stated Armen Rustamyan,
representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body, a likely
presidential candidate, on October 19 at the Hayeli club. According
to him, there are three options: free expression of will, buying or
imposing the right to vote. `There are two atrocious phenomena in
Armenia which simply seize the right to vote from people. One pays
and buys the right to use it, the other makes using this right for
the force they point to. These two components cause a crack between
real support and the outcome of the election, which usually do not
coincide, there is a huge gap between them,’ Armen Rustamyan says.
He touched upon this issue when the reporters asked him whether
Dashnaktsutyun believes the ratings in which Serge Sargsyan ranks
one.
`We do not have a personified approach. Our approach is inside the
system. If we are not eliminating the disadvantages of this system,
one day Serge Sargsyan will benefit from it, on the other day someone
else. I don’t know. You see, the system is such that it tempts
people. If one can abuse the system without responsibility, without
major consequences, without punishment, it’s all the same. Therefore,
we are saying we should not believe in saviors, perfect persons. The
system should reject this. If it rejects, it means you can conduct a
poll, and the person whom people support will be elected, like in the
rest of the world,’ Armen Rustamyan says.