PRESIDENT GIVES ADVICE TO ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN TO HAVE REST FOR 1-2 DAYS AND CONTINUE ELECTORAL STRUGGLE FOR "CHAIR OF PRESIDENT, TO BE MORE EXACT, FOR SECOND PLACE"

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "In reality, I estimate the process
rather positively, except for one circumstance: abundance of personal
offences, which brings forth certain tenseness," Robert Kocharian,
the President of the Republic of Armenia, told journalists on
February 8 in connection with the forthcoming presidential elections,
mentioning that "if we remove that factor from the campaign, these
would, perhaps, be the best, civilized elections in the history of the
Republic of Armenia." According to him, the overwhelming majority of
the candidates realizes that the goal is not "to spoil and corrupt"
the elections. He also expressed opinion that "the campaign of the
very Prime Minister is, perhaps, one of the most correct campaigns."

In connection with the statement on having received threats with regard
to killing Arthur Baghdasarian, a candidate running for presidency, the
President of the country mentioned that the Police tried to meet the
candidate immediately after the statement for the purpose of clarifying
the details. however, the meeting was held only on the eve because of
the latter’s being busy. The Security Service has offered the candidate
to provide personal security until the elections. At the same time,
the President mentioned that the facts brought by Arthur Baghdasarian
are very interesting. Particularly, the candidate has stated that he
has received a letter from an American Armenian, in which the latter
persuades him to be careful. In connection with another threat, it was
mentioned that a stranger has called the father of Mher Shahgeldian,
the Deputy Chairman of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party and
said that Arthur Baghdasarian should be careful. "My impression is the
following: seeing that crowd during the mass meeting, he, probably,
has become excited and decided that something original can be said,
then he has made that original statement and now he has difficulties
in connection with that statement. A strained struggle is proceeding
for the second place, I understand this as well. In such cases,
perhaps particularly people, who have never had great difficulties
in their lives, have not found themselves in critical situations,
can have certain problems in terms of nerves. I would suggest having
a one or two-day rest, sleeping and continuing struggle for the chair
of the President or, to be more exact, for the second place," the
President of the country said. At the same time, he mentioned that
what he said does not concern only Arthur Baghdasarian and that, in
general, in strained situations "safety locks often get out of order,
let’s put it that way, among people."

In connection with the possible joining of Levon Ter-Petrosian
and Arthur Baghdasarian, candidates running for the post of
the RA President, Robert Kocharian mentioned that he treats that
"very positively". "I am convinced that in case of joining, Arthur
Baghdasarian will lose at least half of his electorate as most of
the electorate of the Orinats Yerkir party is seaking for stability
and is not infuriated and I do not think that their feelings are
comparable with the vexed assets of Levon Ter-Petrosian, as regards
that stability and striving for changes, they can be seen at Prime
Minister Serge Sargsian," the President of the country said. He also
mentioned that it is difficult to find a great number of people
in Armenia, who would imagine the pre-electoral slogan of Arthur
Baghdasarian : "New Armenia", "in the face of Levon Ter-Petrosian"
and who would see the future of Armenia "in the form of a discredited
board of administration and it will be very difficult to explain that
step to the electorate of Arthur Baghdasarian." He also mentioned
that if the post of the prime minister is the expectation of the
"prize" from that possible joining, that is simply impossible "both
technically and physically as for the coming four years that post,
according to the Constitution, "will be occupied by the Republicans"
as a result of the parliamentary elections.