VAHAN HOVHANNESIAN TO BE NOMINATED BY DASHNAKTSUTIUN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Noyan Tapan
Nov 30, 2007
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The candidature of Vahan
Hovhannesian, the Vice Speaker of the National Assembly and a member
of the ARF Bureau, will be put forward by the Dashnaktsutiun in
the 2008 presidential elections of Armenia. This decision was made
in the ARF extraordinary meeting held on November 30, the only
question on the agenda of which was the election between the two
candidates. According to the ARF Dashnaktsutiun party rules, 60 out of
the 79 MPs having a casting vote voted for Vahan Hovhannesian, and 16
MPs for Armen Rustamian, the representative of the ARF Supreme Body
of Armenia. Irrespective of the fact that the latter had declared a
self-rejection before, his name was also put to ballot as the party
rules do not give an opportunity for self-rejection.
Armen Rustamian mentioned in his speech that approximately 280 thousand
people from different regions and communities of the country have
taken part in the election between the two Dashnaktsutiun candidates,
53% of whom have voted for Vahan Hovhannisian, and 47% for himself.
Serge Sargsian, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and
the Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, and representatives
of other political forces were present at the ARF extraordinary
meeting. Galust Sahakian, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia
faction of the National Assembly, Arevik Petrosian, the Vice Speaker of
the National Assembly from the Batgavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
party, Mher Shahgeldian from the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party,
and Vazgen Manukian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Union,
made speeches.