Epress.am News from Armenia
All political parties except for those in the ruling coalition have been sent invitations to the Free Democrats’ second congress, the party’s vice chair Anush Sedrakyan told Epress.am. Asked then how is it that new Prosperous Armenia Party member Vartan Oskanian (pictured) was at the congress, Sedrakyan said he was there as an analyst.
Speaking to reporters in the capital today, Free Democrats representative Ararat Zurabyan said Oskanian’s presence at the congress doesn’t relieve him of the responsibility of the events of Mar. 1, 2008.
Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, during his address, welcomed the Free Democrats’ congress but didn’t say whether his party is prepared to enter the parliamentary race in an alliance with the fairly new political party.
Hovhannisian, speaking to Epress.am, said the Heritage Party will decide on Sunday its format for participating in the May 6 parliamentary election.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) Bureau member Armen Rustamyan in his welcoming speech thanked the Free Democrats for its support in the push to move to a 100% proportional representation system in parliament.
“Unfortunately, there hasn’t yet been normal elections in Armenia: the authorities have always been ‘reproduced’ not re-elected. We agree with the Free Democrats, that the system of ‘reproduction’ has to be eradicated,” he said.
New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan, in conversation with Epress.am, expressed hope that the Free Democrats will secure parliamentary seats. According to him, this way “a balanced, Western party will get into parliament and perhaps will give new birth to the collision of pro-Western and pro-Russian ideological poles.”
In Karapetyan’s opinion, the Heritage Party’s and Free Democrats’ chances will be greater if they join forces.