ARMENIA’S PREMIER SERGE SARGSIAN ANNOUNCES HIS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, November 12. /ARKA/. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
nominated during its sitting on November 10 RA Prime Minister Serge
Srgsian’s candidacy for the presidential election on February 19, 2008.

The party approved Sargsian’s candidacy after he was elected RPA
Chairman RPA. After the untimely death of RPA Leader, RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian in March 2007, Sargsian became the acting Chairman
of the party.

Taking into account the great services Sargsian has rendered to the
country, the challenges and the necessity to continue RPA ideology in
Armenia, his nomination was predictable, said RA NA (National Assembly)
Speaker, RPA Member Tigran Torosian during the sitting.

According to him, even now the experts say that the most likely
presidential candidate in Armenia is Serge Sargsian.

In his speech, RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian said that the RA
President should create an atmosphere of free economic competition
in Armenia. "Intellectual property is a guarantee for the country’s
competitive activities in the modern world. We should have an
educational system based on international standards. This is a key
issue which will open all the doors for the country’s development,"
he said.

Sargsian believes the Armenian government should secure social welfare
in order to shape a strong society, where dwellers of the remotest
districts can live a better life.

The country is at the second stage of reforms, the priorities of
which are national security and sustainable development, educational
development and social security of Armenia’s citizens, according to
the RA Premier.

Presidential election is an opportunity to implement the plans, not
a sporting event, according to him. "I do not consider anyone my rival.

We should show our skills to electorate, and not struggle against
anyone," Sargsian said. "We must struggle against certain problems
which puts obstacles in the way of development. I consider it a wrong
policy to struggle against someone."

The presidential election in Armenia will be held on February 19,
2008. From November 21 to December 6 the RA Central Electoral
Committee will accept documents on the nomination of presidential
candidates.