SARKISIAN CONTINUES GOVERNMENT-BACKED RALLIES
By Karine Simonian and Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Feb 7 2008

Authorities in Armenia’s third largest city of Vanadzor provided for
free public transportation, cancelled classes and suspended the work
of other public institutions in an apparent effort to ensure high
turnout at Prime Sarkisian’s campaign rally there on Thursday.

The effort clearly paid off, with thousands of people gathering in
the main town square early in the afternoon to hear Sarkisian speak
mid-way through a concert of Armenian pop singers supporting his
presidential bid.

Vanadzor Mayor Samvel Darpinian could be seen there already in the
morning, overseeing preparations for the rally. He visibly counted
the number of people in attendance moments before the start of the
high-profile event.

"We have no attendance targets," Darpinian told RFE/RL. "If people
want to come here, they will. If not, they won’t come." The mayor
also said that the municipality has nothing to do with the fact that
public transportation in Vanadzor was free of charge on Wednesday.

But bus drivers claimed the opposite. "The municipality is sponsoring
us today," one of them told RFE/RL. "The owner of the bus route gave
me money and said that I will be driving free of charge today."

By noon classes in local schools, colleges and even kindergartens
ground to a halt, with teachers and lecturers flocking to the square
along with their students. "This was not done for the rally," said
Edita Vartanian, principal of the Vanadzor School No. 9. "It’s just
that first-rate bands will be arriving from the capital. We just
wanted to expose the kids to the spirit of the capital a little."

The administrative measures followed what appears to have a become
pattern in Sarkisian’s government-backed election campaign. Teenage
students, teachers and other public sector employees have been a
fixture in the prime minister’s other campaign rallies in Yerevan
and other parts of the country.

Sarkisian began his speech in the capital of the northern Lori region
by attacking unspecified presidential candidates who are "filled with
malice" and "throw mud at what is being created." He also assured local
residents that if elected president he will complete the protracted
reconstruction of Lori and other Armenian regions devastated by the
1988 earthquake.

Sarkisian gave similar promises in Spitak, another Lori town which
was razed by the calamity. "Without your assistance, your active
participation we will not be able to build a just society," he told
a rally there. "Without your active involvement we will not be able
to fight against corruption."

"So those who think that by voting for Serzh Sarkisian they will vote
for easy life are wrong. Those who vote for Serzh Sarkisian, vote for
hard work, prosperity and a decent life," added the election favorite.

Incidentally, Sarkisian’s most formidable challenger, former President
Levon Ter-Petrosian, visited Spitak earlier in the day and pulled
a much smaller crowd. Ter-Petrosian accused local authorities of
bullying people not to attend his meetings

"Remove that fear from yourself," he told local residents. "Rest
assured that there is nothing these authorities can do to you. They
are weak and petty. Straighten your backs, and a lot will change in
your lives."

Campaigning in nearby villages still reeling from the effects of
the devastating quake, Ter-Petrosian deliberately stood next to
Sarkisian’s ubiquitous campaign banners to address small crowds. Many
local residents complained about their poor housing conditions. One
man in the village of Gyulagarak wondered how much the ex-president
would pay for his vote. The father of eight explained that he wants to
sell his vote to the highest bidder because he needs money to repair
the leaking roof of his shack.

"I don’t need your vote for money," responded Ter-Petrosian. "Give
your vote to Serzh."