CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY ADMITS LOW PROBABILITY OF SHRINKAGE OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES’ NUMBER

2008-02-07 17:15:00

ArmInfo. "I think the probability of shrinkage of the Armenian
presidential candidates’ number is low, though one shouldn’t rule it
out at all", Chairman of the National-Democratic Party (NDP) Shavarsh
Kocharyan told journalists at Pastark club, Thursday.

He said that there are two days left before the deadline for submission
of applications for withdrawal of nominees to the Central Electoral
Commission, and the list of contenders for the highest state position
is unlikely to undergo any changes. Asked to comment upon probable
consolidation of presidential candidates Arthur Baghdasaryan and
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Kocharyan said: "If they imagine such kind of
consolidation, let them consolidate".

At the same time, he confirmed that the supporters of presidential
candidate Vazgen Manukyan encouraged by the NDP and those of ARF
Dashnaksutyun Party are still holding political negotiations. We
have much in common, however, our positions are not so much alike
to let us consolidate. Forces with national-democratic ideology
have gathered around Vazgen Manukyan, and ARF Dashnaksutyun is a
socialist party. But one thing is clear: our cooperation with ARFD
will become deeper regardless of the results of the forthcoming
presidential election", Kocharyan said. Thus, the attempt to get
a unambiguous answer to the question whether the negotiations with
ARFD may finish with the withdrawal of Vazgen Manukyan’s candidacy
in Vahan Hovhannisyan’s favor has failed.