PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VOWS TO CRACKDOWN ON CORRUPTION

ARMENPRESS
Jan 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: A presidential candidate said today
all other eight candidates accuse concrete people of corruption, thus
‘implanting seeds of intolerance and hatred towards the authorities.’
Arman Melikian, an Armenian citizen who served for a short time as
foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, and who will be fighting for
presidency in February 19 election, said today that the only effective
way of combating corruption is to enforce radical system changes.

He further argued that the corruption is the consequence of errors
that were made in the first years of independence. He said if elected
president he would make a strategic and political decision to fight it.

"My first move will be to separate authorities from businesses and
rule out that way monopolization of economic sectors and to boost
competitive economy," Arman Melikian said.

Melikian said he would unveil his election manifesto only after the
official launch of the election campaign, as required by the law. He
said his program was developed in close cooperation with skilled
experts and all its provisions are quite feasible.

He said he is being endorsed by 9 non-governmental organizations.

"I assess realistically all my chances of being elected president and
although my nomination came as a surprise there are signs of growing
interest in me. I see chances of being elected," he said.

Arman Melikian also said he did not see a political group now who he
would endorse in the possible run-off, in case he were not elected.

"If a candidate (who would go into the second round) accepts my
approaches regarding both domestic and foreign policies and would be
willing to materialize them I would be on his side," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress