THOUSANDS RALLY FOR ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE
Agence France Presse — English
February 3, 2008 Sunday 5:21 PM GMT
Thousands of Armenians took to the streets of the capital Yerevan on
Sunday to show their support for opposition presidential candidate
Artur Baghdasarian ahead of elections on February 19.
Baghdasarian, the leader of the Country of Law party and a former
speaker of parliament, used his address to the crowd to criticise
President Robert Kocharian’s government over corruption and social
and economic problems.
"If I become president, I will double salaries and pensions, create
100,000-150,000 new jobs, cancel obligatory military service to
make the army professional and reduce taxes," Baghdasarian, 39,
told the crowd.
Thousands travelled to the capital from outlying regions to support
Baghdasarian, who polls show is running a distant second to Kocharian’s
hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.
Organisers said that around 100,000 people were present but media
reports said the total number was significantly less. Police declined
to give an estimate.
"Our country needs a young and educated leader, who many can connect
with their future. Artur Baghdasarian could be such a president,"
said Gegam Kazarian, a 25-year-old builder from the city of Abovian.
Sarkisian is facing eight opponents in the race, including
Baghdasarian, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian and the deputy
speaker of parliament, Vahan Hovhannisian.
After two five-year terms in office, Kocharian is constitutionally
barred from seeking re-election.
An ex-Soviet republic bordered by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey,
Armenia remains mired in poverty despite enjoying record economic
growth in recent years.