WHAT WILL THE "MOST COMPETITIVE" CANDIDATE DO?

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 10 2007

"Most probably the administration will decide in one of its upcoming
meetings on the mechanisms to detect the individual whom the Heritage
Party will support," stated the secretary of the Heritage Party Vardan
Khachatryan on December 10 at the Pastark Club.

Vardan Khachatryan thinks there is little probability of not
supporting anyone because the country is at a turning point, and in
such a crucial period it is wrong to keep away. "Keeping away at
this turning point may lead to a Dante ending. According to Dante
Alighieri, the hottest parts of the hell are reserved for those who
kept away from the society at turning points," Vardan Khachatryan says.

He says as opposition the Heritage Party cannot support the
government. The reporters asked if the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is
opposition, and Vardan Khachatryan said they have never had common
approaches with the government, as well as the ARF Dashnaktsutyun on
important issues.

"In the current process we have never seen that we are the same or
we view all the possible issues from the same aspect. There were
negotiations with the ARF Dashnaktsutyun but we cannot say that we
reached agreement on any issue. In this stage I cannot insist that
the Heritage and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun are coming closer," Vardan
Khachatryan said.

He also said in the recent meeting of the Heritage Party which
decided not to nominate a presidential candidate leaving the issue
of supporting a candidate up to future, Vazgen Manukyan and Levon
Ter-Petrosyan were considered. They are now negotiating with Vazgen
Manukyan but it does not mean that they are about to make a decision.

As to the appeal of Jirair Sefilyan and Vardan Malkhasyan to Raffi
Hovannisian, Vardan Khachatryan says they respect their appeal as
opinion of people who are their friends, but it is not correct to
say that it will determine the stance of the Heritage Party.

"Our stance will be determined by the reaction of the first ranks,"
Vardan Khachatryan says. He also stated that since Raffi Hovannisian
is not eligible, the most competitive candidate is not running in
the race.