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1. nazarian 01.27.08 / 9pm

   One funny thing on the site is:
   ——–
   Major Achievements: Started war against Azerbaijan and funded it with his own country’s electricity, leaving the country literally in the dark
   ——–

   That damages the credibility of whoever came up with this ‘dictator of the month’ nomination. Armenia did not start a war, it was imposed upon us. And this was the first instance in centuries when instead of losing territories, we saved them and then some.
2. Onnik 01.27.08 / 9pm

   As a matter of interest, who’s “we?”

   The others who LTP’s team attacks on a daily basis even though they took as prominent a role in the Karabakh conflict if not more so as the former president i.e. Robert Kocharian, Serge Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukian, Samuel Babayan, Dashnakstutyun etc?
3. nazarian 01.27.08 / 10pm

   We = citizens of Armenia.
4. Onnik 01.27.08 / 10pm

   No volunteers from the Diaspora, especially Dashnaktsutyun, or commanders such as Monte Melkonian then? And no bankrolling or humanitarian assistance from the Diaspora? Ironic that it is precisely these “saved territories and then some” that were the reason for Ter-Petrossian’s downfall when he attempted to trade them for peace, and that you’re using them here almost in a nationalistic context.

   All that said, however, although I am not a citizen, one issue which would make me consider voting for Ter-Petrossian if I were would be the need to integrate into the surrounding region and normalize relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. However, all the negative aspects of his previous presidency — high levels of corruption, oppression of political parties and media outlets, criminalization of the police and falsified elections would prevent me.

   Then again, if I were an Armenian citizen I wouldn’t be voting for anyone on 19 February. I don’t think there are any good candidates and I don’t suppose anything will change regardless of who comes to power. As it is, though, both Sargsyan and Ter-Petrossian represent the very same system which was created by the latter in the 90s.

   Until that changes, I think we’re going to have our fare share of Dictators of the Month although I expect progress to be registered slowly as it has been since the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia.
5. nazarian 01.28.08 / 8pm

   Why do you keep distorting everything? What’s wrong with you?

   My point was that the war was imposed on Armenia and its citizens - Armenia did not start the war like that German post alleges.
6. Onnik 01.28.08 / 9pm

   Considering your somewhat infantile and pathetic attempt to turn a matter of simple blogging etiquette and copyright into a matter of “freedom of speech” and “censorship” on your supporter site for a president who did more against the media and political parties including sending the army out onto the streets against the citizens in the 1996 presidential election which secured him a second term in office, I think that’s a bit rich.

   It’s also somewhat ironic given that your readership of Ter-Petrossian supporters has also included one attempt to discredit me by suggesting I have no right to talk of democracy when I have come from abroad. As most Diasporans consider, the matter of citizens versus foreigners is a very valid one.

   Indeed, it seems to occupy most of the rhetoric from Ter-Petrossian against the “Karabakh clan” doesn’t it? Anyway, you started twisting anything when you removed my photos and claiming it a matter of freedom of speech. Actually, you started before then when you captioned one of my photos being of a KGB operative filming Ter-Petrossian’s march when there is nothing to indicate that he was.

   Indeed, I notice that you have still not adequately responded to my request for a clarification of the basis of your unsubstantiated claims. On your logic, every single cameraman and photographer there was KGB. Man, you guys are paranoid or simply very unsophisticated in your attempts to just spread misinformation in lieu of anything substantial.

   And as I’ve been to more opposition protests than you in the past 10 years, I think you and the whole of what is showing itself to be an undemocratic political force in the sphere of influence of Ter-Petrossian is really quite something. The politics of Ter-Petrossian is one of confrontation and more than that, it is only dividing Armenians to the point of conflict.

   It’s time for you guys to start campaigning and not accusing or acting as if the whole world is against you. My take is quite simple. Let everyone campaign within the law and then — but only then — when the people’s votes are in and we can assess the vote can we analyze what happened.

   Levon Ter-Petrossian, Serge Sargsyan, Artur Baghdasarian, whoever, it doesn’t matter. As long as democracy prevails it shouldn’t matter who becomes the next president of the Republic of Armenia.

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