Armenia’s first post-Soviet leader backed by various groups

Interfax, Russia
Dec 22 2007

Armenia’s first post-Soviet leader backed by various groups

YEREVAN. Dec 22 (Interfax) – Seventeen political parties as well as
some other nongovernmental groups on Saturday urged the Armenians to
cast their votes at the February 19 presidential election for the
first post-Soviet Armenian president, Levon Ter-Petrosian, who held
the office in 1991-98 and is seeking re-election.

The Armenian people need to get rid of the current regime, Stepan
Demirchian, leader of the People’s Party, told a meeting that groups
backing Ter-Petrosian presidency bid held in Yerevan.

The fact that groups espousing different kinds of ideologies are
rallying around Ter-Petrosian makes this goal easier to achieve,
Demirchian argued.

"Levon Ter-Petrosian is a politician who will be able to take on the
challenges facing Armenia," he said.

"The goal of all the parties and public organizations supporting the
first Armenian president, Levon Ter-Petrosian, is not his victory at
the presidential election but the victory of the Armenian people,"
said Ararat Zurabian, chairman of the board of the Armenian
Pan-National Movement.

"As early as February 20, the day after the Armenian presidential
election, we will be celebrating the victory of Levon Ter-Petrosian,
and consequently the victory of the entire people," Zurabian said.

Ter-Petrosian, who also took the floor at the meeting, announced his
bid for re-election in October 2007.