DASHNAKS URGE JOINT EFFORT AGAINST VOTE RIGGING
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 17 2008
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) urged other
major political groups on Thursday to join forces in preventing and
detecting possible fraud in the upcoming presidential election.
Armen Rustamian, Dashnaktsutyun’s election campaign manager, said
none of the nine presidential candidates can single-handedly ensure
the proper conduct of the February 19 vote and suggested that they
set up a joint center coordinating their anti-fraud efforts.
"We are ready to work out, together with all candidates, clear
[anti-fraud] mechanisms, to create a joint oversight headquarters
that would receive complaints, reports of violations," Rustamian
told reporters. "Each of us would then verify those reports through
their channels, and if those reports prove true, we can, for example,
issue a joint statement."
"We consider this to be the main precondition for ensuring the proper
conduct of the elections," added the Dashnaktsutyun leader.
Rustamian added that Dashnaktsutyun has already discussed the idea
with other major election players but would not say how they responded
to it. "We have had comprehensive negotiations, especially on this
issue," he said. "We are setting no preconditions or obstacles for
working together with anyone."
Dashnaktsutyun and some opposition parties already floated such an
idea in the run-up to previous Armenian elections. However, it was
never put into practice.
Despite being represented in Armenia’s government and supporting
outgoing President Robert Kocharian, Dashnaktsutyun has refused to
throw its weight behind his preferred successor, Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian. Its candidate, deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovannisian,
is seen as one of Sarkisian’s main challengers.
Rustamian claimed that Hovannisian can defeat Sarkisian, the election
favorite, and win the presidency. He also said that Dashnaktsutyun
is ready to quit the government in the event of Sarkisian’s victory.