YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The "Unity" election bloc launched its election campaign in Goris–Siunik region–on May 6. The following day Karen Demirchian–Vazgen Sargsyan and Fadei Sargsyan held their public meetings in Meghri–Agarak–Kajaran and Kapan where they were received with the bread and salt of hospitality.
At a public meeting on the central square in Meghri the bloc leaders presented the bloc’s election program which–in particular–focuses attention on the task of creating new jobs to better the people’s living conditions.
At his meeting with voters in Kapan–Karen Demirchian stated that the only way out of the serious social and economic situation is in combining the political parties’ efforts. That is why the "Unity" bloc was formed. Vazgen Sargsyan stated that the people that won the war deserve better life. He expressed confidence that the people that gained victory on the battlefield will also gain victory in economy. He pointed out that while during the 1998 presidential election he was accused of putting obstacles in Demirchian’s way–now he cooperates with him as "there is no other way out."
"Neither Demirchian nor I have given grounds for any doubts during the whole period of our activities that our words and deeds will be at variance. We are sure that we will jointly change something and find the right course. For the time being it is the only reason for forming the bloc," Sargsyan said.
"From the very beginning there was a wrong impression that Yerkrapah (volunteers-defenders of homeland) can do nothing–but fight," Sargsyan told journalists. "However–time has shown that Yerkrapah can not only perform feats on battlefields–but also have a say in peaceful development."
According to him–in 1996 he said: "The army which was created on the basis of Yerkrapah has outstripped the economy of the country by volume–quality and ambitions and if the economy fails to catch up we’ll have problems with defense." He stressed that 3 years have passed–but there are no tangible reforms in the economy. According to Sargsyan–this is one of the reasons why Yerkrapah has taken up politics.
Asked whether the "Unity" bloc will pass the vote of no-confidence to the government–in case it wins the majority seats in the future parliament–Sargsyan said that there is no need to do that since–according to the Constitution–the government has to resign after the new National Assembly is formed. Sargsyan did not answer the question about what the composition of the new government will be–noting that the government is formed by president in association with parliament. "The tragedy of the current parliament and government is that the former does not trust the latter and the former has no links with the latter. If the new parliament jointly with president forms a new government–for which it (the parliament) will be responsible–the government will also be accountable to the parliament. If the responsibilities are fixed–everything will be in its place," the minister said.
