Lragir, Armenia
Feb 14 2008

WHAT DISAPPEARING FROM POLITICAL SPHERE MEANS

As the presidential election is drawing nearer, the rating of our
candidate grows, stated Heghine Bisharyan, head of the election
office of the presidential candidate Arthur Baghdasaryan on February
14 at the Pastark Club. She said this worries the pro-government
media, and some pro-opposition media, which are up for denigrating
Arthur Baghdasaryan.

Heghine Bisharyan stated that they do not believe in this political
war and such efforts to get political dividends. Heghine Bisharyan
voiced concern about an article issued in the Haykakan Zhamanak on
February 14. The article states that the presidential candidate
Arthur Baghdasaryan, allied with the government, will get the highest
number of votes in the first round of the election, and thereby the
government will prevent criticism of a rigged election and guarantee
the victory of Serge Sargsyan in the second round. The newspaper also
wrote that Serge Sargsyan possesses compromising materials on Arthur
Baghdasaryan and his team and uses them to control the moves of the
presidential election.

Heghine Bisharyan wonders why the presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s team negotiates alliance with them in the evening,
and in the morning the newspaper the editor-in-chief of which
endorses Levon Ter-Petrosyan, publishes an article about a plot
between Arthur Baghdasaryan and the government. Heghine Bisharyan
says this policy of blackmail is inadmissible, and the reason of this
ostrich policy is not clear. She says she perceives this policy as an
arrangement between Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serge Sargsyan to
splinter the opposition and favor the government. Heghine Bisharyan
says if the editor of the Haykakan Zhamanak is on Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s side, he should write against the government rather
than `chase Arthur Baghdasaryan’. The reporters asked why they
continue to negotiate with Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s team if they think
so. Heghine Bisharyan reversed the question why Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
team continues to negotiate with them if it doubts them.

The head of Arthur Baghdasaryan’s election office stated that the
biography of the members of their team and their families is open to
the society, and people no longer believe in what the newspapers
write to denigrate them. We are against winning support through
denigrating one other, Heghine Bisharyan says. She stated that
judging by their meetings in the regions, Arthur Baghdasaryan’s
rating is growing, and he will be the first rather than the second.
Heghine Bisharyan stated that their candidate will run in the second
round of the election. Heghine Bisharyan says Levon Ter-Petrosyan or
Serge Sargsyan may be his opponent, otherwise no other candidate has
the chance to win in the first round. She said negotiations with
Levon Ter-Petrosyan for an alliance continue and bilateral alliance
rather than endorsement is under consideration. In answer to the
question if obsessed by their ambitions, Arthur Baghdasaryan and
Levon Ter-Petrosyan will not guarantee Serge Sargsyan’s victory in
the first round, Heghine Bisharyan says Arthur Baghdasaryan ranks at
least two, and judging by revealed results of public polls, others
should consider joining him.

The head of Arthur Baghdasaryan’s election office also said that they
are closely cooperating with Levon Ter-Petrosyan to battle election
fraud, introduce their members of election commissions and proxies
with Ter-Petrosyan’s proxies to be able to prevent fraud on the
voting day.

In answer to the question what her thoughts are regarding Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s pronouncement in Syunik that if Arthur Baghdasaryan
does not join them, will disappear from the political sphere, Heghine
Bisharyan said she was surprised. According to her, Arthur
Baghdasaryan is a political force which has a parliamentary
delegation of eight, he has what he needs, and he cannot disappear.
Heghine Bisharyan says there are nine presidential candidates, and
naturally one of them will win, and the others will not get the post
of president, as to what disappearing from the political sphere means
she cannot understand. `Disappear from where?’ Heghine Bisharyan
asks.