ARF NOMINATES VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN FOR PRESIDENT

YERKIR
30.11.2007 15:38

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Armenia
organization convention, held in Yerevan on November 30, nominated
Armenian parliament deputy speaker Vahan Hovhannisian as the party’s
candidate in the presidential election.

In a secret ballot, Vahan Hovhannisian received 60 votes, and Armen
Rustamian gained 16, with three ballots deemed invalid.

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and other officials were present
at the convention. ARF Supreme Body of Armenia said in his speech
that 288, 697 people have participated in a public vote organized
by the party beginning November 24. Hovhannisian received 53 percent
and Rustamian 47 percent.

Rustamian said that while the public vote results were non-binding
but the people’s opinion was important.

"We are sure that people today do not trust a regime change that leads
only to change of individuals. The people are also tired of keeping
the power as an end in itself that leads to merger of a party and the
government or the government and the rulers, Rustamian said. "People
do not want either, because the choice would be between the bad and
the worse."

He was followed by ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian. "We have
been waiting for this election for years and decades," he said. "We
have fought for the day that we can fight as a nation and society."

He pointed to the importance of the rule of law in any country. He
said that this balance has been breached and it was not breached
today, it never existed, neither in the past, nor during the Soviet
rule or the rule of the Armenian Pan-National Movement. He said it is
important to form a political struggle because only that can help to
have a government based on the rule of law and morality. And this is
why the ARF is participating in the presidential election with its
own candidate.

"We are not alone in our determination. There are political forces
and individuals who adhere to those principles. Together we can reach
our goals," Hovhannisian said.