STEPANAKERT (Yerkir)–At the conclusion of the 11th convention of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Armenia Organization, the party on Monday announced its strategy for the upcoming presidential elections, reiterating its participation with a party-member candidate.
Below is the English-translated text of an announcement emanating from the convention:
The upcoming presidential election in Armenia will be exceptionally significant for meeting the state, social and pan-national challenges facing the Republic of Armenia and all Armenia’s.
The elections will provide new opportunities for creating a balanced government, which will be able to create and lead a strategy for the country’s future development, would be able to correct and guide the strategy of the country’s further development, maintain the spirit and the goals of the constitutional reforms by fully implementing them, and carry out fundamental reforms to ensure solidarity and security.
The 11th convention of the ARF Armenia Organization takes into account that:
The slowing of the party-supported national/state policy, as well as the realization of fundamental and complete democratic reforms, has created the opportunity to reject our adopted national policy.
The public’s growing alienation and disappointment of the authorities, political forces and elections are seriously endangering the prospect of country’s progress;
The continuing integration of economy and politics has resulted in enormous corruption and has created conditions whereby the leadership and government are amalgamated.
We believe that:
A fair and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is possible only by ensuring a progress of the country;
Neutralizing external and internal threats by directing the potential of all Armenia’s toward resolving national issues and problems;
It is possible to reach effective governance though implementation of progressive mechanisms of checks and balances, accountability of the authorities and transparency;
True democracy is impossible without legal equality and respect for human rights;
Economic freedom is impossible without fair competition;
By putting forth alternative solutions and programs and serious political discourse, would create the groundwork for real elections with public awareness.
Be it resolved that
The party will nominate its own candidate in the presidential elections of the Republic of Armenia;
The nomination will be carried out in two phases by calling an extraordinary convention of the ARF Armenia Organization in November;
The special convention will choose between Vahan Havannesian and Armen Rustamian after gauging the ARF’s organizational views, and taking taking into account the opinions of the public and supporters.
Stepanakert
Nagorno Karabakh Republic
September 17, 2007