Oskanian left indications last year that he is seriously considering joining the race to succeed President Robert Kocharian. That prompted speculation that he, rather than Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, is Kocharian’s preferred successor.

Speaking at a regular news conference, Oskanian was asked whether he has already made a decision. “Those who want to be candidates are already speaking out. The fact that I don’t speak out means that I am not a candidate,” he replied without elaborating.

Oskanian, who has served as foreign minister since 1998, added only that he still does not know what he will do after Kocharian completes his second and final term in office next March.

A leading pro-Kocharian pollster told RFE/RL earlier this week that a recent U.S.-funded poll conducted by his Armenian Sociological Association found that Oskanian would have garnered the largest number of votes if the presidential ballot had been held in July. Gevorg Poghosian said Sarkisian was less popular than not only Oskanian but opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian and Kocharian-connected businessman Gagik Tsarukian as of July.

“The results are interesting,” Oskanian said, commenting on the survey. “I haven’t studied them in detail, I don’t even know the numbers. In any case, they are interesting, but don’t make me so enthusiastic that I will make decisions based on them.”

There are lingering questions as to whether Oskanian, who was born in Syria and later became a U.S. citizen, is eligible to run for president. Under Armenia’s constitution, only those individuals who have been Armenian citizens and lived in the country for at least ten years preceding a presidential election can be registered as candidates. Kocharian granted Oskanian Armenian citizenship in April 1998. The forthcoming vote is expected to take place in February or March 2008.

It is unfortunate that bloggers arrive at the point when they even discuss individuals like Oskanian for presidency.

Not at all Bogos. It is unfortunate when bloggers, journalists and analysts don’t examine the names of possible candidates that are being mentioned in some circles here.

Indeed, the problem with blogs during the parliamentary election, as with much of civil society, was that they focused only on their preferred choice in the form of the “radical” opposition which was more impotent than anything else, or spent most of their time trying to discredit the governmental parties in the eyes of an electorate he were instead waiting to be presented with an alternative that they could have faith in.

It is tragic that the whole nation could not produce a political force represented by appealing, charismatic leaders

I don’t think anyone will disagree with you there, but with or without such a force or figures, I have to cover everyone and anyone who has suggested they stand or who others are mentioning as real possibilities in the right situation. Anyway, the main thing about blogs is that whatever you think of a candidate you have the option to have your say to, which is exactly what you’ve done.

With a distinctive Middle Eastern mentality epitomized by illiberality, slyness, and a fear for capable generalists, he surrounded himself with self-centered, mediocre advisors. Along with his administrative mismanagement and introduction of the infamous “policy of complementary,” which essentially advocates Armenia’s preference to comply with the changes in international environment over the methodical effort to protect and advance its national interests, this resulted in Armenia’s over-reliance on the most assertive external player affecting its internal affairs and in obliteration of Armenia’s image abroad, with Oskanian becoming a foreign minister for Kocharian, not the nation.

It is unfortunate that bloggers arrive at the point when they even discuss individuals like Oskanian for presidency. It is tragic that the whole nation could not produce a political force represented by appealing, charismatic leaders capable of getting rid of the ruling Karabakhi clan and their Oskanian-type servants, and laying foundations for a genuine civil society. May God protect our country and our fellow Armenians!

Born and raised in Syria, Oskanian was still a Syrian national of Armenian descent when he graduated from Yerevan Polytechnic Institute in 1979 before moving to the United States to study international relations at Harvard and two other top universities. He returned to Armenia in 1992 to work, as an American citizen, at the former Soviet republic’s newly established Foreign Ministry. Oskanian surrendered his U.S. passport to obtain Armenian citizenship when Kocharian appointed him as foreign minister shortly after coming to power in early 1998. He has since been largely unaffected by the dramatic political battles in Yerevan, carrying out Kocharian’s “complementary” foreign policy and representing Armenia in peace talks with Azerbaijan.

Of course, if Kocharian and the ARF-D wanted Oskanian to run, I’m sure they’d overlook a month or two. After all, they’ve been known to overlook quite a few years for some candidates in the past.

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