Elections in Armenia

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Ter-Petrosian Endorsed By Popular Opposition Leader

By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian and his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party endorsed Levon Ter-Petrosian on Tuesday, boosting the former president’s chances of winning the Armenian presidential election.

The decision was announced after a meeting of Zharangutyun’s nine-member governing board which began late Monday and ended after midnight. In a written statement, the party said Ter-Petrosian’s return to power would enable Armenia to undergo “systemic changes” and have a “legitimate president.”

Zharangutyun representatives indicated that the decision was not made unanimously but did not specify whether Hovannisian voted for it. The U.S.-born popular politician, who had served as independent Armenia’s first foreign minister during Ter-Petrosian’s rule, declined to attend a news conference held by them the next morning.

“Of all the candidates [Ter-Petrosian] has attracted greatest public interest,” said Vartan Khachatrian, a board member. “That is obvious from his rallies. That factor had a serious impact on our vote.”

According to Zharangutyun spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian, the hostile coverage of Ter-Petrosian’s campaign by Armenia’s leading TV stations loyal to the government was also a factor behind the move.

Zharangutyun made a relatively strong showing in the May 2007 parliamentary elections, becoming one of only two opposition parties represented in the National Assembly thanks to its leader’s appeal. Hovannisian, who is not eligible to stand in the upcoming ballot, has been courted in recent months by several presidential candidates, including Ter-Petrosian. He twice met the ex-president late last year and is understood to have participated in the latter’s negotiations last week with another major opposition contender, Artur Baghdasarian.

“During the negotiations [with Ter-Petrosian] we received answers to many questions,” Khachatrian told reporters. “I wouldn’t say that all issues between us have been solved as we have some ideological differences.” He said Hovannisian and the eight other members of the Zharangutyun plan to meet Ter-Petrosian soon to “ascertain” his position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and other challenges facing Armenia.

Zharangutyun indicated last month that it will not endorse any of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s four main challengers unless at least two of them join forces before the first round of voting scheduled for February 19. None of them has dropped out of the race.

“The negotiation process did not yield desirable results,” said Khachatrian. “This step is aimed at making the [opposition] field more inclusive and combative. The negotiations are not over.”

“We believe that with this step the Zharangutyun party can spur the process of forming an opposition wave capable of effecting changes which we find necessary in Armenia,” he added.

http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/02/6B7AC1B5-EF1A-4F80-BC57-A188D6DAFE92.ASP

[Artsakh]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Ter-Petrosian Silent On Surprise Moscow Trip

By Aza Babayan in Moscow and Emil Danielyan

Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian and his entourage on Tuesday declined to divulge any details of his surprise Monday visit to Moscow during which he reportedly met Russian President Vladimir Putin’s likely successor.

The one-day trip came just over one week before Armenia’s presidential election, raising questions about the Kremlin’s continued support for the current authorities in Yerevan.

The Russian newspaper “Argumenty i Fakty” reported that Ter-Petrosian had a brief conversation with Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s first deputy prime ministry widely expected to succeed Putin in an election scheduled for next month. The paper said Ter-Petrosian “explained his position on key issues” during these and other “political consultations” in the Russian capital.

It quoted a Ter-Petrosian spokesman in Moscow, Smbat Karakhanian, as saying that the Armenian presidential candidate’s talks were “very productive and important.” No further details were reported.

Contacted by RFE/RL, an aide to Medvedev, Vladimir Andrianov, refused to refute or confirm the “Argumenty i Fakty” report. Ter-Petrosian aides in Yerevan also declined a comment.

RFE/RL learned that while in Moscow Ter-Petrosian was interviewed by Russian state television. A prominent Russian TV commentator who spoke to the ex-president could not say when the interview will be aired.

Both outgoing President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian have strengthened Armenia’s ties with Russia and enjoyed Moscow’s backing throughout their decade-long rule. As recently as last week, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov paid a high-profile visit to Yerevan which was widely construed as an expression of Russian support for Sarkisian’s presidential bid. Still, Zubkov stopped short of publicly urging Armenians to vote for Sarkisian.

“The authorities are alarmed by street protests staged by the [Armenian] opposition every day,” the Russian daily “Moskovsky Komsomolets” quoted an unnamed Armenian government official as saying during Zubkov’s trip. “They are attended by more and more people. The visit by your prime minister will demonstrate to the electorate on whose side Russia is.”

(Photolur photo)

http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/02/02BC8594-C6AB-4D85-A09D-CA758A606E32.ASP

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

This is a very interesting interview of ARF's Hovannisian. He discusses how he came about to be nominated ARF candidate, identifies NKR as most important election issue, also recognized corruption as problem to be tackled and as president corrupt officials will be tried, addresses why Dashnaks were unable to solve such problems while part of the authorities, discusses if ARF became the third party in the race because of tensions between PM Sargsyan and LTP and if he is an opposition candidate, responds to inquiry re: the danger of the artificial confrontation between NKR and Armenia and that such tensions could lead to destruction of the nation, represents that if elected no liberated territories shall be returned and that current PM and President have gone too far in offering to make mutual concessions to resolve NKR conflict.

http://www.azg.am/EN/2008020502

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Hye-a! Karate chop. Armenian Karate Federation endorses Sargsyan. 15,000 members will kick your ass if you don't vote for him (j/k). http://www.panorama.am/en/sport/2008/02/13/dukando/

ARF demands candidates conduct themselves ethically. Politicians acting ethically, now that's just way too lofty. http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2008/02/13/arf/

Manukyan opposed to joining NATO for fear of harming relations with Russia and Iran and foresees Armenia's dependence on Russian military assistance decreasing, predicts an opposition candidate winning in second round of voting if other opposition parties rallies around him. http://www.azg.am/EN/2008021408

Manukyan won't back his rival LTP, not amused by inquiries as to why he won't unite with other opposition candidates. http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeni...C46EB5F10E.ASP

LTP pushes Orinats Yerkir's Baghdasarian to vocalize support for LTP's candidacy and represented having strong support within government, idenitying Baghdasarian's support as part of his effort to unify the people around his candidacy, but Baghdasarian was silent during recent campaigning instead railing against the Prez and PM for making the country one without a future were people live in fear and monopolizing lucrative industrial operations for themselves and their cronies, LTP claims that 50 National Security Service members have resigned refusing to work against their own people. http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeni...5C5195C656.ASP

Leading RPA member perplexed at Heritage Party's endorsement of LTP as due to prior tensions it indicates LTP and Hovannisian are opposed to pushing further internationl genocide recognition, Orinats Yerkir welcomed Heritage's endorsement and indicated that LTP and Baghdasarian are negotiating amd did not deny that the party would join LTP at the final rally this Saturday in Liberty Square, pundits opposed as to the effect Heritage's endorsement will have on LTP's chances, Heritage party member claims that Hovannisian's participation in last rally not considered yet, article indicates that LTP's visit to Russia indicates that Russia is taking a more balanced approach in handling Armenia. http://armenianow.com/?action=viewAr...6&IID=&lng=eng

AVK (National Rebirth Party) endorses LTP. http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=57537

LTP interviewed by Russian media, states his return is to put country back on the right track, addresses NKR conflict that is shifting because of Azerbaijan's growing political and military strength related to oil dollars and that unfavorable elections results would be protested. http://www.azg.am/EN/2008021406

Armenian media source doubts LTP really met with Putin's likely successor asking "Who did LTP meet?" http://www.azg.am/EN/2008021407

Insightful article regarding ARF, personal relations of members with RA members, how those relations - political and familial - may not allow voters to consider ARF as the opposition or alternative to politics as usual and how ARF tries to gain voters from both the camp of the status quo and those seeking regime change. http://www.eurasianet.org/armenia08/news/021308.shtml

Party information, partial information, which is worse, round II. Media outfits point fingers at each based on political ties and over-preparing broadcasts of each other's candidate and down the line of state or private control. http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeni...1CD77253CA.ASP

[Lernakan]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Raffi Hovhannesyan denies the genocide

Hayots Ashkharh, Armenia
Feb 13 2008


Raffi Hovhannesyan denies the genocide
by Lilit Poghosyan

After a long series of failures, former President Ter-Petrosyan has
struck lucky. The glorious leader of the Heritage Party [Raffi
Hovhannesyan], as it was supposed, made the pro-Ter-Petrosyan public
happy by deciding the vital issue of "whom to join" in favour of
Ter-Petrosyan.

It is interesting that the authors of the Heritage Party's statement
on endorsing Ter-Petrosyan's candidacy at the same time urge "all
citizens who have the right to vote" not to make their votes "subject
to immoral sales", without referring to the vital issue of putting
the Heritage Party's seats in election commissions up for sale.

Ter-Petrosyan is likely to have offered a better price "portfolio"
for those places, which helped the party leader to emerge from a
period of prolonged indecision and finally voice his unambiguous
support for the former president, who has declared national ideology
to be a false category.

Better late than never. The people should know their heroes.
Otherwise, one may think (and not only think, but be sure) that this
figure who, despite his inconsistency, is considered a patriot, would
never be at Ter-Petrosyan's side under the banner of establishing
brotherly relations with Azerbaijan at the expense of Karabakh and
settling Armenian-Turkish relations at the expense of recognition of
the Armenian genocide. Even in the present circumstances, when the
mentioned boss [Ter-Petrosyan] is trying to fudge these issues using
the various formulations that have been presented to society for
campaign purposes.

It is hard to say for sure whether the Heritage Party's potential
electorate will listen to Hovhannesyan's directive or, on the
contrary, finally reject him. And whether at this election there will
be a repeat of the precedent of Talin [town in northern Armenia],
where the leader of the Heritage Party tried his strength in the
uncompromising struggle for a seat in majoritarian constituency
number 15, was completely defeated and was left in the position of an
outsider.

In any case, there is little likelihood that many supporters of the
former foreign minister, who was dismissed from the post by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan for speaking about the genocide in Turkey, would like
to vote for Levon Efendi [Turkish mode of address].

As for Raffi Hovhannesyan, we do not believe that his pro-Levon
behaviour should come as a surprise to anyone. The point is that he
has overcome the complications of the early 90s and now stands a good
chance to compete for the post of Ter-Petrosyan's future foreign
minister with former Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanyan. In
particular, he has revised his strict position on the genocide. You
don't believe it? See for yourself.

For those who do not believe, we present the congratulatory message
of the leader of the Heritage Party to Abdullah Gul from 29 August
2007, in which Hovhannesyan from the bottom of his heart
congratulates the Turkish president on his election.

[The article is accompanied by a facsimile of Hovhannesyan's letter
in English to Gul]

Then he humbly states: "The deep divides between our countries, be
they of contemporary character, or part of the legacy of the Great
Armenian Dispossession, must be overcome" [text taken directly from
English original].

So US presidents need not bother any longer about searching for
harmless wording that gratifies the ambitions of the Turks,
qualifying the first genocide of the 20th century as "tragic events"
at one time, or as "cruelties", "mass killings" at others. Raffi
Hovhannesyan has already found the right wording describing the
genocide as the Great Armenian Dispossession.

We are sure that if needed he will support the leaders of the United
States by providing free of charge or, why not, selling the copyright
for this political know-how.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg220745.html

[Lernakan]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

OSKANIAN: "LEVON TER-PETROSIAN WILL STAND IN FRONT OF NOTHING ON WAY OF BECOMING PRESIDENT"
Noyan Tapan
Feb 13, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. "There has been no word with
regard to handing over Meghri as a territory to Azerbaijan in any
official or semi-official document concerning the regulation of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Vardan Oskanian, the RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs, who was the guest of the Shant TV company, stated on February
12. According to him, the recent statements of Levon Ter-Petrosian,
the RA first President and a candidate running for the post of the RA
President, and the proclamings appeared in press about the variant of
handing over Meghri by the authorities were, all in all, the program
of political scientist Paul Goble, an American analyst, which was
put into circulation at the beginning of the 90s and was finally and
flatly refused in 2000. Vardan Oskanian specially stressed that the
co-Chairmen of the OSCE MInsk Group, who are officially involved in the
regulation of the conflict, have never come up with such a suggestion.

"What Levon Ter-Petrosian is doing in connection with this issue, is
really a cheapest method. That is not right, that is a speculation. I
should say with sorrow that this is a real immorality, as this
is the speculation of one of the most important issues for us,
especially, when that issue is linked with the October 27 cases. If
he could speculate that issue this way, I am really sure that he
will stand in front of nothing in order to implement his political
program, which is to become president of the Republic of Armenia,"
the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated. He also mentioned that he
consideres the "most sorrowful side of immorality" the fact that Levon
Ter-Petrosian is speaking on behalf of late Vazgen Sargsian and Karen
Demirchian. According to him, the first President of the country has
not met with Vazgen Sargsian after his resignation, whereas Vazgen
Sargsian and Robert Kocharian, the current President of the country,
"had fine relations up to the end." "Let us not abuse, let us leave
the dead alone, let us argue with each other, with those, who are
alive," Vardan Oskanian called.

By the way, he mentioned that still in 1994 the RA authorities
discussed the program of Paul Goble within narrow frameworks, at
which Vardan Oskanian was present as the Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Levon Ter-Petrosian expressed opinion that "if we add to it
and they give us the northern part of Nakhijevan, that is the directly
adjacent part of Armenia up to the border of Iran, that will be a good
variant for us. That is the continuation of the Ararat field and that
can be more useful for us than the stony region of Meghri." However,
Vardan Oskanian mentioned that he will not allow himself to declare
that "Levon Ter-Petrosian wanted to hand over Meghri to Azerbaijan,
in spite of expressing such an opinion, as it is not that way, that
will be absurd, that will not be correct, Levon Ter-Petrosian would
not do such a thing," the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs declared.

Attaching importance to Meghri for Armenia, he mentioned that the very
region has currently become a symbol of Iran-Armenia cooperation:
the Iran-Armenia gas main, the interstate road pass here, in the
near future there will also be the oil refinery. Those programs are
10 years old.

"We really live in a very critical period and if the people makes a
wrong decision, we, at least, I even do not know what losses will
suffer," the Minister made assertions mentioning that "the people
should have a right idea of the situation: who says what, what kind
of speculations there are."

Not doubting the wisdom of the people, Vardan Oskanian, however,
considered a number of the statements made recently by Levon
Ter-Petrosian as preoccupying, particularly, that they have already
won, that, all in all, ten days are left, as well as "all the
preparations that are being made, and applying to the Constitutional
Court." According to him, all this brings to the conclusion that
nothing good expects us on February 20." "I call to our people for
being sober," Vardan Oskanian declared.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg220455.html

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Armenia's first president calls for new foreign policy

Yerevan, Armenia - Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrossian, who is again campaigning for the executive, on Sunday called radically new relations with neighbouring states the "firmest safeguard for economic development" in the post-Soviet country. He made the remarks during his first meeting with the press after a decade out of politics Sunday and only days before elections on Tuesday. Landlocked Armenia, cradled high in the Caucasus Mountains, has been forced to rely on a partnership with Russia and aid from Western allies, facing blockades along two of its borders. "We are blocked on all sides - the essential roads for Armenia out to the world are through Azerbaijan and Turkey," Ter-Petrossian told journalists on the last day of campaigning before Tuesday's vote.

He stressed his foreign policy position had not changed from that he advocated when he resigned over a severe backlash to his conciliatory stand in peace talks over Azerbaijan's ethnically- Armenian breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ter-Petrossian apologized for leaving the power in the hands of President Robert Kocharian and his favoured successor Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, calling it "his gravest mistake" in a statement typical of his campaign appearances. At a rally in the capital Yerevan on Saturday, Ter-Petrossian drew a crowd of about 25,000, but this number was easily topped Sunday at Sarkisian's final rally. Sarkisian leads in polls with 50.7 per cent of the vote, just over the 50-per-cent barrier needed to win in the first round of the elections. Analysts said Sunday that his lead could be challenged if more than 68 per cent of voters turn out for the vote, one of the most active in the country's since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Just minutes after Kosovo's declaration of independence, which is thought to aggravate tensions in the Azeri breakaway region, Ter- Petrossian reiterated, "My position is for the fastest possible resolution to the Karabakh conflict." "The only political resolution is based on compromise and mutual concessions," he stressed. The longstanding disputes with Azerbaijan and Turkey, over its refusal to recognize the 1915 genocide of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, have long been basic moments in the post-Soviet's state's foreign policy that are pro-scribed. Ter-Petrossian on Sunday accused the Armenian authorities of being "committed to the status-quo" and "lacking the political will" for a settlement with Nagarno-Karabakh especially because Kocharin and Sarkisian hail from the region. Despite his comments, Ter-Petrossian refused to elaborate on future relations with Turkey, an issue that has complicated Turkey's relationship with the West and bid for European Union accession.

The tense situation in the region has been seen to push Armenia closer to relations with Russia. Ter-Petrosian, who has spoken in favour of NATO accession talks and positively of US plans to deploy missile defence systems opposed by Russia, expressed concern over Russia's growing stake in the country. "Maybe from an outside perspective Kocharian's policies could be viewed as introducing a sovereign, vassal relationship with Russia," he said. But the presidential hopeful emphasized that there were no pro-Western or pro-Russian candidates in the race. He did not deny rumours that he allegedly met with the Russian presidential frontrunner Dmitry Medvedev in a recent trip to Moscow a week before the vote.

Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...gn-policy.html

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Elections make the radar in international and U.S. MSM.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7625839.htm

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6356166.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7250235.stm

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jo2s1u5AJ300xMaJwgaplmFB_VtQD8UT02K80

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/02/18/ap4666954.html

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5550294.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/18/news/Armenia-Election.php

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7319107

http://origin.contracostatimes.com/nationandworld/ci_8296329

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/international-27/1203366261202920.xml&storylist=international

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-armenia-election,1,4264970.story

http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S350567.shtml?cat=10054

http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/494844.html

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/349/story/280354.html

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/API/802180693&template=apart

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/18/AR2008021801186.html

http://www.elpasotimes.com/nationworld/ci_8296329

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Feb18/0,4670,ArmeniaElection,00.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/423664.html

http://ktar.com/?nid=46&sid=736551

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-armenia-election,1,3477389.story

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20080218_ap_armeniafacestestinpresidentialrace.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1103ap_armenia_election.html

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Polls open in Armenia presidential election

Polls opened Tuesday for a presidential election in ex-Soviet Armenia with Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, a close ally of outgoing President Robert Kocharian, seen as the frontrunner. Polling stations across the mountainous republic of three million opened at 8:00 am (0400 GMT) and close at 8:00 pm (1600 GMT) with the first official results expected around midnight (2000 GMT). Polls showed Sarkisian well ahead of his eight rivals in the race to replace President Robert Kocharian, who is constitutionally barred from running for a third five-year term. But analysts say Sarkisian may struggle to win the more than 50 percent required to avoid a potentially risky second round.

Kocharian hand-picked the 53-year-old prime minister as his successor after Sarkisian's Republican Party of Armenia swept parliamentary elections in May. Both men are credited with ensuring relative stability and strong economic growth in recent years. Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters at a rally on Sunday, Sarkisian said his government was the only one voters could trust to maintain economic growth. "I know there are many problems in our country -- poverty, unemployment, corruption. We are the only political force that knows how to resolve these problems," he said. Sarkisian's two main rivals -- former president Levon Ter-Petrosian and former parliamentary speaker Artur Baghdasarian -- have boosted the prime minister's chances by failing to unite ahead of the vote.

Opponents accuse the Sarkisian camp of making unfair use of state resources to promote his candidacy, a charge the prime minister denies. Opposition candidates have warned they will call supporters to the streets if they believe the vote is unfair, raising fears of post-election unrest. Analysts predict Sarkisian will follow in Kocharian's footsteps if elected, pursuing close ties with Moscow and maintaining a hawkish stance in relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey. The two countries have cut diplomatic ties and sealed their borders with Armenia over its support for Armenian separatists in Azerbaijan's rebel Nagorny Karabakh region.

Ankara has also been deeply angered by Yerevan's efforts to have the World War I-era mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire internationally recognised as genocide. Pre-election polls show Sarkisian hovering at around 50 percent support, with Ter-Petrosian and Baghdasarian trailing with 10-15 percent. Opposition candidates have questioned the polling companies' independence. About 600 foreign observers are to monitor the vote and analysts say the government is keen to win international legitimacy for the result. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is to issue a report on the election Wednesday. Parliamentary elections last May were the first to be declared largely in accordance with international standards.

Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...bMZqb3RmqlZ-wg

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

EXTRA: Armenian exit polls point to first round win for Sarkisian

Yerevan, Armenia - Armenia Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, the preferred successor of incumbent President Robert Kocharian, led with 57.1 per cent in the first exit polls released by British pollster Populus two hours after the close of voting in the post- Soviet state's presidential elections Tuesday. According to initial results by the Populus poll, Sarkisian comfortably passed the 50-per-cent barrier needed to carry home the elections in the first round of voting. His fiercest challenger, former president Levon Ter-Petrosian, said the poll had been commissioned and accused the government of "mass bribing, ballot stuffing, (and) voting list falsifications" before the close of voting at 8 pm (1600 GMT) Tuesday. "Populus has nothing to do with the reality. It is totally under the control of the government," Ter-Petrosian's spokesman Arman Musinyan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...d-win-for.html