ACCORDING TO "ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY," IF ELECTIONS ARE HELD WITH FALSIFICATIONS, ALTERNATIVE METHODS WILL BE USED

Noyan Tapan
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Karapetian, the Chairman of
the People’s Party, the President of the ALM (Alternative Medium) TV
company, a candidate for presidency in the RA forthcoming presidential
elections, asserts that his candidature for the presidential elections
is alternative, as he has never been in power and has been nominated
by the people.

Meanwhile, the PP Chairman considers all other eight candidates
his rivals.

He expressed an opinion at the January 9 press conference that all
candidates have their electorate, but Artur Baghdasarian and Levon
Ter-Petrosian act in the same field and their electorate is rather
"protestant."

Saying that he has created more than 100 preelection headquarters
in Armenia, T. Karapetian stated confidently that he can win the
presidential elections, but according to him, "there are candidates,
who use other resources, and this can be an obstacle for him." And
sociological surveys, in particular, those held by Aharon Adibekian,
according to T. Karapetian, are of no importance for him. "I believe
science, but do not believe "sutibekian." According to him, the
authorities have not understood yet that A. Adibekian perhaps does
more harm than good. The PP Chairman also said that A. Adibekian had
proposed him, too holding sociological surveys for money before the
parliamentary elections.

T. Karapetian said that if the presidential elections are held with
falsificatons, alternative methods will be used, which will be a
surprise for many. However, in his opinion, the authorities will strive
for being maximum transparent and will not commit gross violations.

T. Karapetian’s preelection program is at the stage of preparation
and will be available for society soon. The program has two main
provisions: "fighting corruption" and "differentiation of power wings."