RUSTAMIAN: ARF HAS POTENTIAL TO PREVENT ELECTION FRAUD

Yerkir
26.05.2009 16:02

Yerevan (Yerkir) – "It is no secret that Dashnaktsutyun has found
itself in one against eight – or two against seven- situation in
the election commissions," Armen Rustamian, the ARF Supreme Body of
Armenia chairman, told a news conference today.

He said the party will make sure that no election fraud is taking
place and that the Elections Code is working properly. He said the
ARF has always had that potential.

Rustamian said that each election in this country brings more
questions than answers, and this election, unfortunately, is no
exception. Rustamian added that there is no dispute in this election,
saying that this is probably due to the fact that the public as well
as the political forces did not realize the significance of this
election. The main topic for the dispute, he said, should have been
the changes in the system of governing Yerevan.

The mayor must be accountable before the people, if not directly,
at least before the people’s delegates, the council, he said. "For
the first time, the law on Yerevan will be put to test. But many
people don’t even have an idea about the law," Rustamian said.

"It is important that knowledgeable people are elected. It is also
important that people apply this law properly.

Artsvik Minasyan, the ARF candidate for mayor, said that ea ch
political force is trying to present its position in this election,
and it is natural that the ARF became an opposition force. He said
that after the election, there will be a chance for the party to have
a place in that field.