Tashnag Announces Candidates, Adheres to Doha Agreement
The Tashnag party announced Sunday the names of five candidates for the upcoming legislative elections, paving the way for an Armenian participation following the 2005 boycott of the polls.
"The party is reaffirming its decision to fully participate in the elections through candidacy and through voting in all districts, in a reversal of its 2005 boycott of the polls in Beirut," Tashnag secretary general Hovig Mekhitarian told a press conference in Burj Hammoud before naming the contenders.
Among the five candidates, Arthur Nazarian is the only official Tashnag member and will be running in Beirut”s second district "in conformity with the Doha agreement," he said.
The rest of the parliamentary hopefuls were identified as: MP George Qassarji in Zahleh; MP Hagop Pakradounian in the northern Metn; Vrej Saboungian for the Armenian Orthodox seat in Beirut”s first district in addition to Krikor Kaloust for the Armenian Catholic seat in Beirut”s first district.
"The revival of the Armenian parliamentary bloc serves to breathe life into what this bloc stand for and into its role in Parliament as an advocate of moderation and dialogue," Mekhitarian said.
The June 7 elections "must take place in a climate of democracy and must be free of violence and tension," he stressed.
Mekhitarian said that "fair representation in Parliament" will help Lebanon confront major challenges such as "development, the fight against corruption and accountability."
Concluding the conference, he called on all members of parliament to unite around the state notably "the president of the republic who was elected by full consensus."