ARF-Dashnaktsutyun promises to justify all hopes
"This is Yerevan, you are home here." The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun has chosen the slogan for its election campaign. The Party pledges to make Yerevan the capital of all Armenians.
To justify the principle, the ARF has involved in its candidate list architect Albert Achemyan who has been living in Armenia for ten years. The latter says Yerevan needs strategic programmes.
Representative of the ARF Supreme Body Armen Rustamyan noted in his speech that the Party has always stood for changing the status of the capital city. "The City Council should form the municipal authority within the bounds of its liabilities and in line with legislation. The upcoming election undoubtedly has a political significance. Yet, we should avoid politicizing the election. On the other hand, we needn't underestimate the mayoral election. We must evaluate the situation. The election is not aimed at solving minor neighbouring problems like street-cleaning. At the same time, we don't agree that the election decides Armenia's authorities."
There are some women on the Party's list. Mrs. Anahit Yesayan, who worked in the City Hall for many years, says she is well aware of the Yerevan's problems.
ARF's pe-election platform was detailed by MP Artsvik Minasyan who heads the Party's candidate list. The Party promises its electorate to involve Yerevan civilians in the system of city administration. ARF plans to establish a standing oversight Commission leaving its leadership to the opposition, create the institute of the city council, work out once-year, four-year and long-term programmes of Yerevan's development, review and optimize the system of the City Hall staff and pay proper salaries.
The Party will focus on the spheres of human rights excluding all kinds of infringements and calls the youth to come up with fresh ideas.
At the end of today's meeting all the 50 candidates of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation were invited to the stage.
In reply to A1+'s remark that the Party still needs to be perceived as an opposition, representative of the ARF Supreme Body Hrant Margaryan said: "We have always encountered problems. We rely on our people. "
Armen Rustamyan says the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun needs time to be perceived as an opposition. "The campaign gives us a chance to show the seriousness of our decision."
Mr. Rustamyan also added that the Party will not support any other candidate during the election.
"If Yerevan citizens vote for the ARF on May 31 they will bind us with their votes and will become convinced that Dashnaktsutyun is a real opposition. We shall justify all their hopes," added Artsvik Minasyan.
