SIX ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES MERGE AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL POLLS

Public TV, Armenia
Feb 6 2008

[Presenter ] The election alliance which supports Vazgen Manukyan
[Armenian presidential candidate and leader of the opposition National
Democratic Union] is a party now. The National Democratic Union has
enlarged – the Union of National Democrats and the National Democratic
Party, which earlier separated from the National Democratic Union,
as well as the National State, the National Unity Oath Party and the
Union of Constitutional Law have joined the National Democratic Union.

[Correspondent over video of the meeting] The political group of
six is being photographed and is saying toasts to the future. Their
merger took place today – the National Democratic Union, the National
Democratic Party, the Union of National Democrats, the National State,
National Unity Oath Party and the Union of Constitutional Law solemnly
announced this today. This was the only announcement on the agenda,
and the only speaker was the presidential candidate, Vazgen Manukyan.

[Vazgen Manukyan] We propose systematic changes in our programme
related both to the constitution and changes both in the political and
economic systems. I am sure that this is inevitable, no matter what
the outcome of the election is, it is inevitable. This path will be
simply imposed on us from the outside. It will be imposed from outside,
because we will have challenges which we will not be able to respond
to under these conditions. That is the step which we have included
in our programme, it is not only an issue by which we differ from
other candidates, we see the future and are moving towards the future.

[Correspondent] Vazgen Manukyan said that the 20th anniversary of the
Karabakh movement is approaching and that one needed to close that
page of history and to open a new one. Whether we want it or not,
we should enter a new phase, Manukyan said.

[Manukyan] While foreseeing this phase we, the six parties, have
decided that we will establish in a united way a new party which will
be based on national democratic principles, ideology and philosophy.

[Correspondent] The presidential candidate said that negotiations
are under way with other parties as well. They will have a union in
which there will be no discipline characteristic of a party, it will
be a free party of free people.

[Manukyan] We do not want this party to become a party of one person
or of a group. It should be a horizontal, network party in which
everyone committed to national and democratic principles will be able
to express themselves and be able to take part in our political life.

Without this the state cannot develop.

[Correspondent] A union based on national and democratic principles
will not use weaknesses of human soul, like, Manukyan said, the
opponents are doing.

[Manukyan] I am calling for the closure with honour this 20-year page
and to open with pride a new page of the next 20 years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress