POLITICIZED TEAMS – OUT-OF-DATE
Naira Khachatryan
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Sept 4 2007
Armenia
Leader of "Nor Jamanakner" party Aram Karapetyan officially announced
yesterday, during his meeting with the journalists that he is planning
to nominate his candidacy for presidency during 2008 presidential
elections.
"I’m not planning to unite with anyone. I’m going alone. I welcome
all the negotiations of the opposition. I will be very happy if they
manage to reach an agreement about the united candidate. Personally
I haven’t participated in those negotiations.
In my view in this situation Armenian opposition must pursue a single
goal – never to discuss, criticize or discredit one another.
The pro-governmental parties in my view are going to appear with more
than one candidate. That is why, as an opposition we have a problem,
in terms of campaigning against pro-governmental candidates.
In no doubt the elections will pass in two stages. The representatives
of pro-opposition and pro-governmental camps will appear at the second
stage. Only then will opposition start to negotiate about supporting
the united candidate." He said.
For the leader of "Nor Jamanakner" party the process of the formation
of team-units around the various political poles in the political
domain is quite acceptable. But he is confident; during the election
campaign opposition won’t have a united candidate.
"They shouldn’t give similar promises to the society. I don’t think
we need this at present. It would be better for all the opposition
sectors to campaign against the representatives of the pro-governmental
front. As it is common in the whole world."
The speaker said presidential elections are personalized where two
factors are very important – the individual and the team with which
he is going to work in future. " I believe politicized teams are
out-of-date. Our people are tired of politicized teams. In my view
what our people really want to see is – a rather strong, civilized
president, having good knowledge about politics and a very good
team, relatively young. Actually our people need radical changes and
progress," leader of "Nor Jamanakner" party believes.
Aram Karapetyan’s predictions about the second stage of the elections
were based on the number of the candidates. He said they would be
8-10. "According to the sociological rules, if more than 8 candidates
stand for the elections, it is very difficult, especially in a country
like our, where one can do anything with administrative and financial
resources, to win the elections at the first stage."
Optimistic ideas were also heard, "I don’t think violence will
be used during these elections. These elections will pass in a
relatively civilized atmosphere. But I don’t think financial means
will be overlooked."
By the way A. Karapetyan is not concerned about the fact that
the votes of the pro-opposition powers will be scattered due to
the abundance of candidates. "The votes of the opposition front
are already scattered. From 8-10 candidates, if we take out the
pro-governmental candidates, one or two pro-opposition candidates
can obtain significant amount of votes. All the other votes of the
pro-opposition candidates will reduce to dust."
And the question about Aram Karapetyan’s intention to support the
pro-opposition candidate having appeared at the second stage is
beyond suspicion. "I have already proved this in Stepan Demirchyan’s
case. Without any condition, regarding a position or money or
something, (as you remember in 2003 I was in the fourth position,
Artashes Geghamyan was in the third position and he didn’t support
any of the candidates and my role became more important) I called
him next day and said that I’m going to make an official statement
on his support.
But, leader of "Nor Jamanakner" party said this time he will not be
the fourth, he will be nearer to the victorious boundary. "In my view
Aram Karapetyan and Serge Sargsyan will appear at the second stage,
of course if Serge Sargsyan nominates his candidacy."
"What is this self-confidence based on?"
"I can see that at the moment we use the maximum financial resources in
the opposition field. I can see that we can gather the maximum human
resources. Besides populism we introduce real programs, beginning
from the second nuclear station to the oil-pipe-line."
It isn’t worth mentioning, that leader of "Nor Jamanakner" party is
well informed and possesses a package of sensational documents.
Documents that he is planning to introduce to the public during the
presidential campaign and this will probably be the core of A.
Karapetyan’s PR. " I’m planning to introduce many sensational documents
during the presidential campaign. I’m ready to prove the authenticity
of those documents, introduced during the live airtime on TV, in the
court. They concern both internal and external issues.
They are about everything beginning from 1992 up to the present,
including October 27 – a matter of common concern, I belive."