SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS LOSE

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17 April, 2008

Former Presidential Candidate, Chairman of "National Democratic Union"
Vazgen Manukian met with journalists for the first time after the
elections. He accounted his silence for the oversensitivity of the
political situation.

According to him the opposition had every chance to win if it used
another format. Regarding the legitimacy of elections Vazgen Manukian
said: "They were more legitimate than those of 2003."

"We have had no legitimate elections since 1995. But as compared to
the Presidential Elections of 2003 we had fewer violations. I cannot
accept the post-election demands of the opposition. Back in 1996
we demanded that one ballot-box from each polling station be opened
and the ballots counted. I cannot accept the demand of 2008. Levon
Ter-Petrossian declares he has won 65% of votes and he is eager to
sit in his palace. It is a unique claim but not quite real."

With regard to March 1 victims Vazgen Manukian says: "For the first
time in Armenia’s history we had victims during political unease. Who
is responsible?

Who is to blame? Usually, the state is responsible for the blood
shed at the time of demonstrations. But it is the court’s duty to
find out those guilty. We should distinguish political prisoners from
transgressors and punish the guilty ones."

"We are on the wrong way. We shouldn’t go over 1988 or 1996
again. People are displeased with the government but they do not
want to be engaged in politics. They simply wait until a fairy comes
and takes away the evil spirits. In such circumstances someone will
always be a loser and people will suffer."