Several prominent leaders of Armenia’s fragmented opposition were in no rush at the weekend to accept former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan calls to endorse his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections. Appealing to a dozen potential opposition presidential candidates during a rally in Yerevan on Friday, Ter-Petrosyan said he will serve only three years to the people in the event of his victory in the February 12 vote and their endorsement of his presidential bid.
Even on the day of the rally Artashes Geghamyan when was speaking to one of our reporters responded coolly to Ter-Petrosyan’s call, welcoming only the ex-president’s readiness to serve as a “tool” for regime change. “In that sense I find positive Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s offer and readiness to serve the opposition,” he said. “As to how we will make use of that readiness that will be discussed at a meeting of our party’s presidium.” Also planning to join the race is Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the New Times Party. “The New Times Party regards as very positive all those actions that take place in the opposition camp and are directed against the authorities,” a spokesman said, commenting on Ter-Petrosyan’s latest speech. “But we will not be commenting on other party leaders’ views for now.” This means that they are against Ter-Petrosyan’s suggestion. Vazgen Manukyan, another opposition heavyweight was even more dismissive of his erstwhile foe. When speaking to us Manukyan said that he will give answers to all the questions during their upcoming press conference. Most probably he will also say “no” to the First President’s Proposal. Unlike the above-mentioned politicians the chairman of the Democratic Way party, Manuk Gasparyan has a positive opinion about the suggestion of Ter-Petrosyan. “I have noticed certain decisiveness in his words and even believed him,” Gasparyan said. “Ter-Petrosyan made everyone understand that we all have minimum chances for victory. He also said that he wasn’t too powerful either but intends to go till the end. He said let us all compromise and join each other on behalf of the prosperity of the country. 10 years ago he brought the incumbent government to power and made a major mistake. When I listened to his speech I remembered the people’s saying – “the bite of the dog is cured by the dog hair”. The opposition cannot initiate a revolution today because revolutions cause blood. Ter-Petrosyan says bring me to power and use me to get rid of the incumbent government. I have told my staff a month ago that Ter-Petrosyan is means to emancipate ourselves from the current government without revolution.” According to Gasparyan all the “opposition guys,” who have decided to run on their own, must think it over a lot and make their final decisions within 10-15 days. Manuk Gasparyan is showing an example to them and even today he is going to hold a board session and announce that the Democratic Way is going to endorse Ter-Petrosyan in the presidential race. “I have never personally been a Ter-Petrosyan supporter. I have always criticized him for 1993-1994 policies. But at present the situation in this country develops in a way that makes these people remember Ter-Petrosyan. So you can guess in what a bad state these people are to remember Ter-Petrosyan,” says Gasparyan. He said that today some other discussions are also going to take place among Vazgen Manukyan, Artur Baghdasaryan and some others to decided whether they are going to endorse the first president or not. But regardless of whether this discussion will take place or not, Gasparyan is going to summon his session and is going to say what he wishes to say. “Today one more meeting is going to take place and my board is rushing to make the decision about endorsing the first president. My speech during that board session is going to be slightly different from the one we have prepared in advance. Ter-Petrosyan’s speech has slightly alternated the contents of my speech. We will tell Artur, Geghamyan and Vazgen to prove that they stand a better chance to win the elections and we will endorse them. If not I will make my own decision. They all signify my decision,” ensures Gasparyan. The chair of the Democratic Way liked the speeches of Ter-Petrosyan so much that he doesn’t even feel the necessity of being introduced to his platform. “I don’t even need to demand Ter-Petrosyan’s political platform. His last speeches answer all my questions. He made it clear that none of the previous government officials is going to be next to him and the ones, who stand next to him, will make his team. He hasn’t spoken about the current National Assembly but he cannot work three years with the current Parliament. I agree with all of his evaluations. When he said let me clean the farm from diseased ones I realized that I can be next to him,” said Gasparyan. Also, when speaking to us Gasparyan ensured us that he had never met Ter-Petrosyan and had never had such a wish. He has even received an invitation to meet Ter-Petrosyan but he refused to. “I didn’t want to meet him in person. His guys have offered me to meet him but I refused because I don’t have a personal demand from him. And I think I don’t need any recommendations now. Now Ter-Petrosyan has shifted the stick to the 5th one and is spurring forward. And he apologized to our people for cold and dark years. In our family the members also forgave many of his deeds,” said Gasparyan. As of the Legal State Party, one of the two opposition groups represented in the National Assembly, told us that its governing board will meet on soon to discuss Ter-Petrosyan’s proposal.