Candidate for president: Armenian opposition may consolidate around one nominee

YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. Candidate for Armenia’s president, leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan does not exclude the possibility of consolidation around a joint candidate at the presidential elections of February 18, Novosti-Armenia reported.

“I believe that, first of all, we should discuss what programs we can consolidate around, and then understand who can provide maximum implementation,” Hayrikyan told a press conference Thursday.

Hayrikyan pointed out that a basic principle of prosperity of the Armenian people should be laid down in all the programs.

“We should understand that the fate of the Armenian people is in the hands of Armenia’s citizens,” the candidate said.

Despite the conflicting views of the political parties, “Armenia’s transformation into a really democratic country” should become a common objective, the politician said.

Armenian presidential elections are scheduled for February 18. 

Eight nominees are registered for running for Armenia’s president: current president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan, philologist Vardan Sedrakyan and leader of National Consent party Aram Harutinyan. -0-