ARF MAY EXIT COALITION IF ELECTION’S MARRED, SAYS CANDIDATE

Asbarez
article=41655_4/20/2009_1
April 20, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation could go as
far as to pull out of Armenia’s governing coalition if the upcoming
municipal elections in Yerevan are marred by "blatant" irregularities,
the party’s top election candidate warned on Friday.

"We would not only make a statement not recognizing the election
results but take many other actions," Artsvik Minasian, who was
nominated by the influential party for the post of Yerevan mayor,
told RFE/RL in an interview.

When asked whether a coalition exit is an option for the ARF,
Minasian said, "Of course. It is now difficult to imagine what
situation can lead to such a move. But everything will be possible
if these elections follow a negative scenario."

Minasian already urged President Serzh Sarkisian earlier this month
to publicly pledge that his Republican Party of Armenia will not
use its extensive government levers to win the polls scheduled for
May 31. He echoed media reports that Yerevan’s incumbent Republican
Mayor Gagik Beglarian and his subordinates are pressuring public
sector employees to help the HHK win a majority in the new municipal
assembly. Sarkisian did not comment on the Dashnaktsutyun concerns
during his April 10 news conference.

Eduard Sharmazanov, the Republican spokesman, insisted on Friday that
Armenia’s main governing party will do its best to ensure that the
elections are held "without serious violations." "The Republican Party
has neither the need nor the ability or desire to rig the elections,"
he told RFE/RL.

The Republican Party was accused of using its government levers and
resorting to dirty tricks to win last year’s presidential election
and the May 2007 parliamentary elections which Western observers
described as flawed. It strongly denied any wrongdoing.

"We should not rule out that, as has often been the case, some people
will try to pay lip service to one or another political force," said
Minasian. "We should therefore jointly fight against pressure, ballot
stuffing, attempts to distort election results and other violations
that can significantly influence the real picture." He said the ARF
is ready to cooperate with all other election contenders.