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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenya AA who wrote (10162)	2/19/2003 8:30:39 AM
From: PartyTime	Respond to of 25898

Keep your eyes on this one, folks. Both Turkey and Iran have interests in the Nagorno-Karabakh matter. And this region of the world is not that far away from the Iraq hot zone. Armenian Election Seen As Turning Point By BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA Associated Press Writer February 19, 2003, 7:50 AM EST YEREVAN, Armenia -- Armenia's president is defending his job in elections seen as a turning point in a country still recovering from a military conflict and riven by a growing gap between rich and poor. Eight candidates are challenging President Robert Kocharian in Wednesday's election, and foreign observers are closely watching the vote as a test of democracy in the former Soviet republic. After the Soviet collapse in 1991, Armenia became embroiled in military conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan, followed by political turmoil and a large exodus of intellectuals and skilled workers. They joined the already significant Armenian diaspora in the United States and elsewhere. After casting his ballot at a school in central Yerevan, Kocharian, 48, said he hoped the election would bring Armenians "five years of normal and stable life." A spokesman for Kocharian's main rival, Stepan Demirchian, said his team was optimistic, too. "We are expecting to win. Demirchian is the most popular political figure and we have had a good election campaign," said Stepan Safarian. He said he had not noticed any pressure on voters so far, but the atmosphere at polling places was tense. A retiree who identified herself only by her first name, Emma, said she had been disappointed with Kocharian and voted for Demirchian. "They have forgotten about us (retirees)," the woman said, adding that her pension was only $9. The National Unity Party leader Artashes Gegamian, the third most popular candidate according to opinion polls, alleged that the military had been given ballots already filled in Kocharian's favor and not all ballot boxes were sealed. Wednesday's voting was watched by around 200 international observers. It was the first of the former Soviet republics to use transparent ballot boxes. First results from the vote aren't expected until Thursday. "I hope the turnout will be high and that Armenia can demonstrate to Europe that democracy has taken firm root here," said Lord Russell Johnston, who leads a Council of Europe observation mission. Election officials said that by early afternoon, the turnout was 25 percent. The victor must win more than 50 percent of votes irrespective of turnout. Kocharian is being challenged by eight contenders who have criticized his failure to secure a final deal with Azerbaijan over the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. He also faces accusations over about 30 unresolved political killings in recent years and the widening gap between rich and poor in this nation of 3.3 million people. Backed by Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh forces fought a 1988-94 war with Azerbaijan. Despite a cease-fire, the dispute has not been resolved. Because of tense relations with Azerbaijan and its regional ally Turkey, landlocked Armenia faces an economic blockade that adds urgency to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Kocharian is a native of Nagorno-Karabakh and was a key figure in the region's movement for self determination. His supporters say he has contributed to economic stabilization of the area and is still the best person to reach a final settlement over the enclave's future. The opposition has tried to capitalize on claims that Kocharian does not meet the 10-year Armenian citizenship requirement for presidential candidates. The opposition, however, failed to unite behind a single candidate. "They all are stealing votes from each other and thus increasing Kocharian's chances," said Aghasi Yenokian, director of the Armenian Center for Political and International Studies, an independent think tank. Demirchian, chairman of the People's Party, is running on an anti-corruption platform. Lacking political experience, he has tried to attract voters using the image of his father, Karen Demirchian -- Kocharian's main rival in the 1998 presidential contest and one of the victims of a 1999 shooting in parliament that left eight people dead. Previous votes were marred by falsified ballots and intimidation of voters, and observers say Kocharian badly needs to win in an honest election. They say a fair victory would also speed up the nation's integration with Europe. Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press newsday.com