The Ornats Yerkir Party (OYP) will face no financial problems during the presidential race. The OYP relies on the financial assistance of its members as well as on small and medium-sized business owners who will contribute to the party's election fund, OYP Deputy leader Heghine Bisharian said today.

“The upcoming election has turned into a life-and-death issue for some presidential candidates. They believe that the outcome of the election will determine their future and freedom,” political scientist Aghasy Enokian told A1+.

Armenia favours Turkey's bid to join the European Union because it might improve the prospects for overcoming the strained relations between Ankara and Yerevan, according to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia's prime minister.

Pressures on Gyumri GALA independent TV Company continue for 2 months. The press release on the establishment of Protection Headquarters of GALA TV Company says that the pressures on behalf of various state officials are directed on the policy of GALA TV Company and aim at changing it.

The First Russian Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev asked Vladimir Putin to accept the post of the Prime Minister in case he won during the presidential elections in 2008.

“I do not want to get engaged in the political sensuality”, said the Chairman of the Armenian Marxist party David Hakobyan, reflecting on the reason he appeared next to Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club Chairman Boris Navasardyan announced that the Chairman of the “Orinats Yerkir” party Arthur Baghdasaryan did not refuse to communicate with TV companies, but technical issues were often complicated and restricted.

The RA Central Electoral Commission will invite only short-term observers to monitor presidential elections on 19 February.

On December 10, the United States and Armenian governments held initial discussions at the U.S. Embassy to consider the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI).

On December 10 Putin said that he supported Medevedev's candidacy for the presidency in 2008.

Yerevan Press Club, Team Research Centre and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation have monitored the Armenian television and radio on the eve of the election campaign. Today they presented the results of the November monitoring.

Election conduct testifies to the level of human rights protection in countries. We cannot speak of human rights protection if elections are faked, head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Sergey Kapinos announced today during the events dedicated to International Day of Human Rights Protection.

During the gathering Levon Ter-Petrosyan presented the essence of Tatar-Mongol power. The characteristic feature of such power is the feeling of property; they consider their property their country, while the servants are the nation.

“I would not miss this opportunity. We may not make mistakes again”, said Aram Simonyan, a participant of the gathering, to “A1+”. The participants of the gathering mainly supported Levon Ter-Petrosyan and had come “to listen to the speech of their favorite leader”.

“I do not know what genocide is, but I know that the Diaspora needs it. If we involve the Genocide issue in the agenda of foreign relations, then the Diaspora will give more money”, said Robert Kocharyan to Levon Ter-Petrosyan when he was the Prime Minister.

In his speech Levon Ter-Petrosyan reflected on Robert Kocharyan’s declarations as if the “Armenian National Movement” destroyed Armenian economy. He reflected on the economic state during the last Soviet Union years and described in detail the state of economy during his officiate.

“Today the public demands a united opposition”, said Alexander Arzumanyan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. He considers that the lack of a united opposition always hinders a pan-national movement.

David Hakobyan, Chairman of the “Marxist Party” also made a speech during the gathering. He announced that it was his first public speech. “I am the lackey of Artshakh Vikings. I say that this is my army”, he said, showing the gathered.

Nikol Pushinyan informed the participants of the gathering that Zhirayr Sefilyan and Vardan Malkhasyan, who were in prison and who fought for Karabakh liberation, also joined them.

Today Chairman of the “People’s Party” Stepan Demirchyan stated that the appearance of the RA First President in the political field gave some political actors a good opportunity “for political trade”.

The gathering began at 15.13 in the Liberty Square with “Levon, Levon” slogans. The RA state hymn was heard and the participants waved the state flag.

The gathering in the Liberty Square is not launched yet. It is due at 15.00 and is organized by the First RA President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Chairman of the “People’s Party” Stepan Demirchyan and Member of the “Republican” party board Aram Sargsyan.

Today an incident was provoked in Koriun Street. Nikol Pashinian was beaten with eggs while distributing leaflets on tomorrow’s rally.

The official campaign has not been launched yet, but Chairman of the RA NA Tigran Torosyan assesses this pre-election period satisfactory.