LOCAL AUTHORITIES COMMIT FALSIFICATIONS ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, RPA YOUNG MEMBER MENUA HAROUTIUNIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 4, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The election campaign of the
forthcoming presidential elections is distinguished by the circumstance
that besides personalities, program and subject issues are also much
spoken about. Menua Haroutiunian, the political commentator of the
Armnews TV company, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
said at the February 2 discussion.

According to him, there are three political teams, the team of
first President Levon Ter-Petrosian, member of ARFD Bureau Vahan
Hovhannisian, and RPA Chairman, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the
candidates of which carry out an ideological struggle.

Vasak Darbinian, the editor of the Hayk periodical and the Taregir
electronic newspaper, said that one should pay attention to the ways
of country’s development the candidates offer. "For me, for instance,
the slogan "Forward, Armenia!" sounds absolutely absurd. If you say
"forward!"

to those standing on the verge of a disaster, it means inevitable
ruin," he stated.

Opposing to him, M. Haroutiunian said that "Forward, Armenia!" means
that the country should adopt the way of development. In his words,
"since 1998, wheh Robert Kocharian became a President, many ribbons
have been cut, about which many people speak with humor, the jobs,
the tax-payers have increased."

In response to the observation of a journalist that allegedly on the
occasion of gas supply of a village R. Kocharian cut a red ribbon,
but then it was found out that the gas was placed with a balloon,
M. Haroutiunian stated: "Yes, today there is a stratum of officials,
who do a disservice to the "upper links". Today no one tells the
regional authorities to falsify this or that thing or to do some thing:
they do it on their own initiative.