YEREVAN (Radio Free Europe)–Chairman Vano Siradeghian–on August 2–told the board of the Armenian National Movement–thediominant party in the ruling Republic bloc–that his top priority is to "restore people’s trust" in the party before the parliamentary elections due in July–1999. According to him–that trust was lost after last year’s presidential elections.
Siradeghian–who was elected chairman of the board of the party in early July–but is not a parliament deputy–said the Movement must form a "new bloc" with its allies to win the elections–but did not specify whether the Movement will leave the Republic bloc and set up a new alliance. He hinted that the Shamiram party–the second largest within parliament–and the Union of Industrialists and Businessmen will be incorporated into the Armenian National Movement "in the coming months."
