However, students are another matter and I have yet to see that Levon has been able to mobilize them. Indeed, OYP and ARF-D have been more active in these areas as unfortunately has the Republican party but in another less than genuinely political or ideological way (I think). Meanwhile, I wonder how many people in Liberty Square actually give a damn about liberalism or different approaches and just want revenge on Kocharian and Serge.

As in Georgia, this spells trouble afterwards because I suspect that as the huge mass of those in Liberty Square were men over the age of 40 and also from the regions or outlying districts of Yerevan, they’re not going to be too welcoming on any liberalism in society. I suspect that they’re actually very conservative and their hopes in Levon are merely limited to overthrowing the regime without thinking what will be afterwards.

Still, what will be will be. However, yes, I do consider the manifestos to mean very little, and it’s interesting to note that Ter-Petrossian is becoming more populist than Baghdasarian — promising to quadruple pensions according to ArmeniaNow and releasing people from prison. Wonder if he got those pre-election campaign ideas from Saakashvili. Anyway, most important thing of all about this election — and perhaps the only matter of importance — in fact is that the conduct improves.

Let’s see. Hopefully there won’t be clashes the day after voting day although I suspect that the amount of hate between Ter-Petrossian and Sargsyan circles makes it inevitable.

I predict, ARF’s candidate will be our next president.

I would imagine that’s especially the case in Armenia.

POLITICS

YEREVAN, January 9. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is disappointed by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s approaches to the foreign policy, Oskanian said during the press-conference.

“I am disappointed by ex-President’s approaches to the foreign policy that are formulated in his pre-election program. Taking into account his speeches and criticism of authorities, I expected stricter formulations, new ideas and proposals,” Oskanian said.

He said that in the ex-President’s program there are no tracks of similar proposals. He pointed out that all the proposals formulated in the ex-President’s pre-election program have long been realized by acting authorities.

“If Armenia’s ex-President avoided criticizing the authorities, I would not have been disappointed by the absence of new ideas in his program,” Oskanian said.

He pointed out that all the proposals of Armenia’s ex-President about the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, which he had made during his governing, cannot even be compared to the present position of the Armenian authorities.

Oskanian pointed out that the Karabakhi people would never agree to the proposals of Armenia’s ex-President, which he had tried to implement being the head of the country.

“During the ruling of Ter-Petrosyan there was even no hint for the self-determination of the Karabakh people. At present Armenia conducts negotiations being guided by the right of the Karabakh people for self-determination,” Oskanian said.

In the line of the foreign policy, in the pre-election program of Ter-Petrosyan it is mentioned that for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict it is necessary to express political will from the positions of protecting the self-determination of Armenians from Artsakh and search of variants for mutual compromises for the settlement of the Karabakh issue.

The presidential elections in Armenia are scheduled for February 19. L.M. -0– ?? ?? ?? ??

Document ARKA000020080109e419000jh

I am sure, that the programm will find it’s explanations during the upcomming press-conference on January 11 and during the campaign. As Ditord mentioned, let’s wait and see…

For example, the Jermuk fiasco still lingers and Armenian mineral water exports have been halted to the US and other developed countries. The Armenian state or business circles have been unable to prove that their products are safe – I don’t know whether it’s due to lack of creativity, resources such as money or lawyers, or something else.