DASHNAKS MULL CAMPAIGN PLATFORM

The campaign team of deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovannisian discussed and approved on Tuesday the election manifesto of the presidential candidate of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). The Hovannisian campaign declined to immediately release the document. A Dashnaktsutyun spokesman, Spartak Seyranian, told RFE/RL that it needs to be endorsed by the party’s governing Supreme Body before being made public. The body was scheduled to meet later in the day. Seyranian said Hovannisian himself will unveil the manifesto “in a few days time.” He said it will contain about 10 pages and be “quite accessible” to voters. Hovannisian disclosed the main points of his platform as he effectively kicked off his campaign on December 25. In what came as a novelty in Armenian politics, he offered to sign “contracts” with individual voters committing him to pursuing policies that would, lead among other things, to free elections and social justice. According to Seyranian, about 70,000 Armenians have already signed such contracts carrying Hovannisian’s printed signature and titled “I am with Vahan.” He said Dashnaktsutyun expects tens of thousands of others to do so before election day. “It is logical for 99 percent of them to vote for Vahan Hovannisian,” added Seyranian. (Photolur photo)
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Headlines for January 08, 2008

KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATES REELECTED GEORGIAN LEADER
By Karine Kalantarian and Ruben Meloyan in Tbilisi
President Robert Kocharian has “wholeheartedly” congratulated Mikheil Saakashvili on his victory in Georgia’s disputed presidential election, his office said on Tuesday. “I am confident that you will ...
DASHNAKS MULL CAMPAIGN PLATFORM
By Ruzanna Stepanian
The campaign team of deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovannisian discussed and approved on Tuesday the election manifesto of the presidential candidate of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). ...
TER-PETROSIAN TO HOLD LANDMARK NEWS CONFERENCE
By Emil Danielyan
Levon Ter-Petrosian will hold this week a news conference for the first time in over a decade to discuss his participation in Armenia’s forthcoming presidential election, the former president’s campaign ...