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IS ARF OPPOSITION OR POWER?

Politics

Armen Rustamyan, Head of the ARF pre-election headquarters, member of the ARF Supreme Body met with the NGOs, representing women, since the ARF presidential candidate and member of the ARF Bureau Vahan Hovhannisyan was unable to meet them.

Armen Rustamyan confessed that he could hardly substitute Vahan Hovhannisyan during the meeting, but he had to take the responsibility, since Vahan Hovhannisyan’s regional meetings could not be delayed. Armen Rustamyan kissed the Head of the “Women’s Republican Council” NGO Nora Hakobyan, saying that he was unable to kiss all women, but it concerned to everyone.

Armen Rustamyan informed the representatives of NGOs that they had managed to hold meetings in more than 400 communities. They had even visited those dense villages, where the candidates were considered as “the men from TV”. According to Armen Rustamyan, women’s intuition was the greatest barometer which could give the most exact assessment on the life during the last 20 years.

“We need political will, restriction of privilege, fair system; we need to take measures to establish free a citizen. In 100 days all officials will register serious changes in their posts”, pointed out the Head of the Headquarters and underline the importance of choosing correct staff members.

Reflecting on the process of elections, Armen Rustamyan noted that people took part in the elections and each time they got disappointed with the results, since they were always rigged. Armen Rustamyan calmed down the women stating they had their representatives in all 1923 election districts. He also confessed that the election bribes had their particular place and they fought against it every day. “We have our proxies everywhere, but we do not mention their names, since they may press on them. I do exclude that the fight will take place in all districts. We have 4000 members, who should keep everything under control”, he said. Armen Rustamyan fears that since elections have always been rigged in Armenia, and if this time they are conducted fairly, people will not believe in it.

One of the women representatives of the NGOs asked Armen Rustamyan: “Are you an opposition or do you represent authorities? We want to believe that you do not have mutual agreement with the authorities.”

“We are in the power, but we are not the power. Why? Because you may have 10 ministers, but not be a power. To be a power, means making major decision in the country. The decisions are made without us”, mentioned Armen Rustamyan, then he stated that they had clear principles. “We meet the President each week. He is not well-aware of the decisions. We ask him to check and make sure that we do not say it for us. We can only edit and correct decisions, but we are unable to influence on them”.