YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"We support the President of Armenia on many issues and provide him assistance. But in some other matters much more could have been done by him–especially in the socioeconomic sphere and the matter of corruption and the shadow economy," stated Aghvan Vartanian–head of the ARF bloc in Armenia’s National Assembly (parliament).
According to Vartanian–the ARF of Armenia will hold its convention at the end of October and beginning of November–and the party’s position regarding the presidential elections in Armenia will be on the convention agenda. Local party units are now meeting in preparation for that convention–he said.
Vartanian also denied rumors that the ARF had struck deals with the Communist Party and "Orinats Yerkir" party concerning the formation of regional election commissions. The ARF has picked up the position of chair–deputy-chair–or secretary in 34 of 56 such commissions–a relatively high proportion.