“I declare with an awesome responsibility that there are representatives in our headquarters from different structures of the authority. The authorities are in panic, and it is expressed in different ways”, – Aram Manukyan, the head of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s pre-electoral headquarters in Arabkir community said summarizing the first week of the campaign. In his words people from different political forces move to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s headquarters. Aram Manukyan didn’t give any name but emphasized that those people had played responsible roles in their former positions. He also added: “ This is more obvious for me, since I nominated my candidacy in the former parliamentary elections in May 2007, and those people who were against me that time, were making frauds against me, they now support me”,- our interlocutor said. If people were working for their supervisor, neighbor, friend or relative, there are two versions today: Serge Sargsyan- the symbol of authority and guile, and Levon Ter-Petrosyan- the symbol of changeover of political forces and freshness with his thousands of adherents. If people were divided into 8-10 standpoints, nowadays they are concentrated”. Aram Manukyan understands those people and justifies them: “People connect the presidential elections with the development of the country and join the First President’s team. Levon Ter-Petrosyan managed to join various forces, even discrepant forces, and just that power will destroy the current regime. Love and hatred have been unified, and now we have a great resonance and people’s movement.”
In answer to “Aravot’s” observation that the rest of candidates also want changeover of political forces, Aram Manukyan said: “The public finally understood the essence of false, pocket candidates. Ask people who Geghamyan is, and you will receive the right answer. The main problem, challenge of our country is to get rid of the current authorities. Levon Ter-Petrosyan with his team, bravery, spirit is able to solve that problem”. Mr. Manukyan also said that they collaborate very actively with “Heritage” and “Rule of Law” Party. They also collaborate with ARF to hold fair elections.
The authorities still want to throw obstacles in the opposition’s way. But those obstacles are very small and miserable. They don’t allow Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s adherents to stick his posters and tear it after. The previous meetings were allowed to shoot from the roof of Opera House: “Baghdasaryan Taron, the head of
Ter-Petrosyan’s opponents spread information as if the same people participate in Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s meetings in the regions: In answer to this accusation Aram Manukyan said: “No presidential candidate among the rest of eight is able to gather 100.000 citizens in bad weather conditions (-13C), those citizens participate in the procession and again gather in the same square. If any of them is able to gather half of them with their financial and administrative resources, I will join him.”