Al-Tayyar, Lebanon
March 29 2009

The names of Tashnak’s candidates to run in Lebanon.

Mekhitarian: Our decision is not to marginalize the other.

Tashnak announced in a press conference the names of its candidates to
run in the upcoming legislative elections in the districts of Beirut,
Metn and Zahleh; and they are:

– Horice Sabonjian and Freij Sabongian in Beirut’s first district for
the Armenian Orthodox seat
-Krikore Calsoute in Beirut’s first district for the Armenian Catholic seat
-Artur Nazarian in Beirut’s second district, noting that Mekhitarian
said that out of respect and for the implementation of the Doha
agreement, the party’s has one candidate in this constituency.
-MP Hagop Pakradounian for the northern Metn seat.
-MP George Qassarji in Zahle.

The Tashnak secretary general Hovig Mekhitarian at the press
conference assured that, and even though the electoral law agreed upon
in Doha is not ideal, the party decided to take part in the elections
both by naming candidates and voting after it boycotted the polls in
Beirut in 2005.

Mekhitarian stressed on the fact that only one of the candidates
belong to the Tashnak party in Metn district, while all others are
not. Mekhitarian draw the attention that they will run the next
election in order to revitalize the Armenian block, out of his belief
that Lebanon was and still is a country of coexistence among the
Lebanese, a country of self-respect and respect to the other’s
opinion, without any marginalization.

Mekhitarian said that the parliamentary elections represent one face
of democracy and must take place away from any pressures. Thus, the
proper representation in the parliament help resolve major problems.

Mekhitarian stressed on all deputes to gather around the legal
institutions, particularly on the President of the Republic; saying
that the revival of the Armenians Bloc is a revival of its own
decision, and that it will remain the `base stone’ of the parliament.