"Presidential Elections To Be Held With One Stage And Bako Sahakian

"PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD WITH ONE STAGE AND BAKO SAHAKIAN TO BE ELECTED," AHARON ADIBEKIAN DECLARES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Aharon Adibekian, the Head of the
"Sociometer" sociological center, stated at the July 9 press conference
that according to the survey, conducted by his sociological center
ten days before the forthcoming elections, the presidential elections
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh will be held with one stage and
Bako Sahakian, the former Chief of the National Security Service,
will be elected President.

According to this survey, 82,5% of the participants of the survey
intend to take part in the forthcoming elections and 60% of them
are going to vote for Bako Sahakian. Masis Mayilian, the Deputy of
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,
who contends on 10% at best, takes second place. Aharon Adibekian is
convinced that the considerable difference between the indices of
the two main candidates, evidently, speaks about the fact that the
presidential elections in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh will be
held with one stage.

According to Aharon Adibekian, the overwhelming majority of those
asked believes that the elections will be held in a free and fair way
and only 5.6% of the participants of the survey have doubts concerning
this question.

The sociologist mentioned that all the presidential elections held
in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh up to now passed with rather
high standards.

700 people, who enjoy suffrage, took part in the survey conducted in 18
settlements of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on July 6. The survey
was conducted due to the assistance provided by the representatives of
the youth wing of the Artsakh Union of Azatamartiks (soldiers fighting
for freedom) and it should also be mentioned that Bako Sahakian is
a member of the administration of this Artsakh Union. In response
to the questions of journalists, Aharon Adibekian made assertions
that the survey was not ordered by anyone and that it is the "modest
contribution" of the Head of the "Sociometer" sociological center to
the electoral preceedings of Nagorno Karabakh.

It should also be mentioned that five candidates, who were all put
forward on the civic initiative, except Hrant Melkumian, the leader of
the Communists’ Party of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, will take
part in the forthcoming presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh.