"ONCE YOU TAKE A BRIBE YOU BECOME A HOSTAGE"

A1+
09 January, 2008

Leader of the People’s Party (ZhK) and presidential contender Tigran
Karapetian is confident of his victory in the presidential election.

Tigran Karapetian considers himself an alternative and states that
"his electorate is the conservative part of the society, adherent
to the principles of justice." According to the ZhK leader, he "is
the only candidate who represents the interests of this stratum of
the society although there are many who defend the interests of the
displeased electorate."

Tigran Karapetian expects tense struggle during the election and
calls on voters to refuse election bribes.

"Once you take election bribes you bound yourself and become a
hostage," this is one of Karapetian’s slogans. People will get
acquainted with the other 19 slogans during the election campaign. The
party has already set up pre-election headquarters. The number of
regional structures exceeds 100.

Tigran Karapetian noted that he is not going to offend any of the
presidential contenders and considers them worthy rivals. In case of
being elected, the leader of the People’s Party promised to combat
against corruption and to dissociate the branches of power.

According to the candidate, "if the presidential elections in Armenia
proceed according to the Georgian scenario, we will have to go to the
streets." Tigran Karapetian expressed the opinion that the authorities
will try to hold maximally transparent elections and refrain from
gross falsifications. "However, in the regions of the country, there
will be "well-wishers,’ ready to secure 80% of electors’ votes for
the candidate from the ruling party."

As a citizen Tigran Karapetian would vote for himself as "he doesn’t
distribute bribes." He doesn’t think that the TV sets distributed by
his company are bribes as he demands nothing in return.