DECISION WILL BE KNOWN BY FRIDAY

A1+
02:35 pm, 18 March, 2009

Politics

"Any decision made by the Heritage Party will contribute to the
opposition’s victory," the Spokesman of the Heritage Party Hovsep
Khurshudyan said on March 18. He voiced regret that although the
Heritage and the Armenian National Congress (HAK) had arranged to name
a joint candidate for the city mayor, the HAK decided the format and
participation in the election without the Heritage.

Hovsep Khurshudyan says they think highly of the HAK and appreciate
its place in the political domain, and yet, the Congress had better
discuss its list with the Heritage.

The list proposed by the Heritage is headed by Armen Martirosyan,
followed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and Raffi Hovanisyan. Hovsep
Khurshudyan believes that all those who disapprove of the government
policy and do not want to vote for Levon Ter-Petrosyan, will vote
for Armen Martirosyan.

The Heritage Spokesman says the party regards the upcoming elections as
a means of a political struggle rather than a struggle for a mayor’s
post. Armen Martirosyan’s victory was to have been secured by the two
great political figures-Levon ter-Petrosyan and Raffi Hovanisyan. In
that case, the opposition electorate would have been consolidated.

Asked which of the candidates has greater chances to win the election-
Ter-Petrosyan or Armen Martirosyan, Hovsep Khurshudyan refrained from
giving a straightforward answer and advised "not to cut the question
from its logical context." He reiterated that the Heritage does not
want to lose voters and the party has made a methodological decision.

Hovsep Khurshudyan says the chances to rag the elections are few as
both the HAK and the Heritage will do their utmost to conduct a fair
and free election in Yerevan.

Hovsep Khurshudyan also advised opposition media not to defame
the Heritage and provoke a conflict between the two wings of the
opposition, HAK and Heritage, as it is expedient only for the
government.

The Heritage will make a final decision about its participation on
Friday. "A lot depends on the HAK," Hovsep Khurshudyan said regarding
Heritage’s final decision to run or withdraw from the race.