"BOTH AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVISION OF STABILITY," MELIKIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. There have really been acts of
violence and abuses during the RA presidential elections, however,
Serge Sargsian has really had advantage over Levon Ter-Petrosian. This
statement was made by RA presidential candidate Arman Melikian, who,
at the same time, added that he cannot claim that the advantage
was enough to win in the first stage. He qualified the elections
as elections of mutual intolerance and hatred. Thus, in his words,
society did not elect its prefered candidate but voted against the one,
it does not prefer.

For Arman Melikian the most important thing today is the stability
of the country. "An atmosphere of hatred has taken root and if we
do not overcome it, we will have very serious problems both inside
the country and with our neighbours," he said. In the estimation of
Arman Melikian, the disputable problems of the presidential elections
will not be solved in the legal field under these circumstances. He
mentioned that both the authorities and the opposition are responsible
for the provision of the country, and the abolition of the atmosphere
of intolerance. According to him, the only possibility of taking
the country out of the existing situation is the direct political
dialogue. Arman Melikian mentioned that if the sides want and trust
him, he is ready to assume the role of the mediator.