Lragir, Armenia
Jan 18 2008

WHOSE GAME IS FORECAST ON RUN-OFF ELECTION?

Why the question whom to support in the second round of the election
never occurred in the presidential elections of 1996, 1998 and 2003,
whereas now it is one of the most frequently asked questions? This
question was raised by the presidential candidate Vazgen Manukyan in
a news conference on January 18 at the Tesaket Club. He tried to
answer the question of reporters if the National Democratic Union
will support Levon Ter-Petrosyan if he runs in the election,
especially that Aram Manukyan from Ter-Petrosyan’s team has stated
recently that if Vazgen Manukyan runs in the second round, they will
support Vazgen Manukyan.

`Every time this question was solved in different ways. In 1996 no
second round was held, in 1998 there was a second round, most parties
supported Robert Kocharyan only the NDU and the Communist Party
decided not to support anyone. In 2003 Artashes Geghamyan did not
join anyone and found himself in a difficult situation. However, it
has never been discussed beforehand. I think it is a put-up job,’
Vazgen Manukyan says. He says he does not discuss this especially
that he thinks he will be in the second round.