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	<title>Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun</title>
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	<link>http://www.arfd.info</link>
	<description>The official English language site of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian socialist party)</description>
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		<title>ARF-D Issues Post-Elections Statement</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/05/08/arf-d-issues-post-elections-press-release/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/05/08/arf-d-issues-post-elections-press-release/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 13:17:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=3053</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The parliamentary elections, that were a new political and moral trial for our statehood, have come to an end. The ARF-D addressed the public with a clear platform, the implementation of which would secure a quality life for us all, inside our country. We ran an active public campaign, our approaches reached all voters, we felt the overall appreciation. We thank all those, who voted for ARF-Dashnaktsutyun. Unfortunately, these elections didn’t reflect the actual will of the people on one hand and the correlation between the political powers, on the other. It was clear that the general vote rigging was premeditated and took place outside the districts&#8217; centers, on May 6 and the days before that. The ruling coalition members marked high results; first and foremost due to the complete use of the state and administrative levers and of the unprecedented large financial means that were turned into vote rigging tools. It is an unquestionable proof that corruption had its determining impact on the election results. This situation proves that the Armenian society’s overwhelming majority which faces social difficulties, is legally unprotected and alienated from the state didn’t conduct a free and conscious election process. The people’s depoliticization, poverty and [...]]]></description>
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		<title>The Joint Inter-Party Center For Public Oversight Of Elections Could Hold Joint Actions</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/05/02/the-joint-inter-party-center-for-public-oversight-of-elections-could-hold-joint-actions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/05/02/the-joint-inter-party-center-for-public-oversight-of-elections-could-hold-joint-actions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 13:07:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=3044</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In case of election fraud, the Joint Inter-Party Center For Public Oversight Of Elections which includes ARF-D, the Armenian National Congress (HAK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) could hold joint actions. “Joint actions, joint positions on issues are possible” said the Head of ARF-D’s proportional list, Vahan Hovhannesyan adding that “this doesn’t mean that a bloc or an alliance would be formed”. Replying to a question by Azatutuyn Radio station about taking these actions to the streets, Hovhannesyan said that “if the counterfeit takes place on a state level, then the authorities, the ruling party, the central or other electoral commission are responsible. If that’s the case, then of course the wave of protest is unavoidable” he stated underlining at the same time, the importance of proving the counterfeit incidents. Sharing his impressions of the pre-electoral rallies that have taken place so far, the ARF-D candidate expressed his belief that the people have started standing up. “It seems as their coming out of that poor state of always obeying the local authorities” he said. Referring to the polls, Hovhannesyan said that it is clear that they have been dictated and argued that those offices conducting the polls can provide any given [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Leader Faults Government Over Free Elections</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/20/arf-dashnaktsutyun-leader-faults-government-over-free-elections/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/20/arf-dashnaktsutyun-leader-faults-government-over-free-elections/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:07:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=3040</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sargis Harutyunyan RFE/RL Armenia’s political leadership is not committed to holding free and fair elections despite its assurances to the contrary, a leader of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) said on Friday. “The ruling force is not showing the will to hold truly democratic elections in our country,” Hrant Margaryan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) in an interview. “Security bodies are not even trying to catch those who hand out vote bribes. That means they themselves impede this [democratic] course.” Top government officials have repeatedly promised to do their best to ensure that the May 6 parliamentary elections are the most democratic in Armenia’s post-Soviet history. Speaking at a campaign rally in Yerevan on Thursday, President Serzh Sarkisian stressed the importance of “good elections” for the country and its international reputation. “A government elected in such elections could do a much better job,” he said. Margaryan claimed, however, neither Sarkisian nor his predecessors have been really interested in polls widely recognized as democratic. “From the first day of our independence we have always had problems with elections,” he said. “There have been violations in all elections. That means the ruling force resorts to all methods to retain power.” “Since [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Parties ‘Cooperate For Regime Change’</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/18/parties-cooperate-for-regime-change/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/18/parties-cooperate-for-regime-change/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:55:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=3035</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sargis Harutyunyan, Ruzanna Stepanian RFE/RL Three leading political forces that have pledged to jointly fight for the fairness of next month’s parliamentary elections are ultimately interested in changing Armenia’s current government, a leader of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) said on Wednesday. “The goal is not only election oversight but to ensure that elections in Armenia become means of changing the government,” Armen Rustamyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “Unfortunately, this has not been the case in Armenia until now.” “Changing this situation is beneficial for those political forces that really want regime change and want to change the government without upheavals, without putting the public and our fellow citizens at risk,” Rustamyan said, referring to Dashnaktsutyun, the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), a member of the governing coalition. The three election contenders decided to set up the Inter-Party Center for Public Oversight of the Elections on April 4. BHK leader Gagik Tsarukian and the HAK’s Levon Ter-Petrosian stressed on Tuesday that they have struck no far-reaching political deals and are only cooperating on the proper conduct of the May 6 polls. Rustamyan argued, though, that regime change will happen “automatically” if elections [...]]]></description>
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		<title>ARF-D Faction Meets With PACE Pre-electoral Delegation</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/12/arf-d-faction-meets-with-pace-pre-electoral-delegation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/12/arf-d-faction-meets-with-pace-pre-electoral-delegation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:42:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2984</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Members of ARF-D Parliamentary Faction, Vahan Hovhannesyan, Artsvik Minasyan and Lilit Galstyan met with the PACE pre-electoral delegation, in the frame of the latter’s visit to Armenia. The ARF-D members expressed their concern over conducting fair and free elections. The possible use of administrative resources, the unequal conditions of the campaigning, the collecting of identification documents were also mentioned by the ARF-D side as clear malfunctioning indications. The need of an Inter-Party Center For Public Oversight Of the Elections, that was recently established and the effectiveness of coordination of efforts aiming at the supervision of the elections were also discussed. According to www.news.am, Galstyan said to her interlocutors that the social-economic state and the high level of poverty are obstacles to the exercise of the rights to free expression and suffrage. Additionally, the lack of political culture turns to be quite obvious when ideology is not the source of the voting criteria. Vahan Hovhannesyan talking about the ARF-D initiative of the “Vote is Power” movement said that it is open to everyone and could serve as a ground for cooperation. The ARF-D members found positive the delegation’s long-term and vast presentation in the process of having an elections process fitting [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>www.arf2012.am</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/12/www-arf2012-am/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/12/www-arf2012-am/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:53:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2968</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ARF-D has launched a new website (www.arf2012.am) dedicated to the 2012 parliamentary elections that will be held in Armenia, on May 6. This initiative is in the context of establishing new ways of communication with the people. Through the website, which is available only in Armenian, one can read the pre-electoral manifesto’s four axis; the social-economic policy, the sustainable development, the national-democratic state and the foreign policy, get to know the candidates and the electoral districts as well as the party’s constantly uploaded upcoming campaign events. Furthermore, the visitors are able to contact ARF-D and share their thoughts, concerns or support and receive proper and prompt replies. The campaign management team announced that the website will be active even after May 6 to include next year’s Presidential elections as well. Apart from the website, the party has already its own facebook page. The website’s presentation was held on April 12 at ARF-D Supreme Council’s “Simon Vratsyan” premises.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/12/www-arf2012-am/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Thousands Attend ARF-D Election Rally in Yerevan</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/10/thousands-attend-arf-d-election-rally-in-yerevan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/10/thousands-attend-arf-d-election-rally-in-yerevan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:41:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2989</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thousands of Armenian voters turned out Wednesday, April 10 at Liberty Square for an election rally to kick off the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s parliamentary election campaign. The crowd joined “Vote Is Power” movement’s activists, AYF Armenia members and supporters who had marched earlier from Matenadaran to the square. Despite the rain, people of all ages were there, waving the Armenian flag or holding signs with the ARF-D’s campaign logo “Liberty. Justice. The ARF”. With a pledge to return power to the people and a comprehensive regime change, the ARF-D held its election rally one day after unveiling its election platform to reporters at a gathering on Monday held at Erebouni Plaza Business Center. The welcoming speech was delivered by ARF-D member Gegham Manukyan and next the floor was given to candidates Vahan Hovhannesyan, Armen Rustamyan, Artsvik Minasyan, Aghvan Vardanyan and ARF-D Bureau Chairman Hrant Margaryan. They all called the voters to show confidence in ARF-D who pledges to address the social and economical issues of the country, protect the rights of the next generations in respect to national interests, strengthen democracy and give the power back to its rightful owner as provisioned by the Constitution, the people of Armenia. “We [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/10/thousands-attend-arf-d-election-rally-in-yerevan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>ARF-D Holds Pre-electoral Platform Presentation</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/09/arf-d-presents-its-pre-electoral-manifesto-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/09/arf-d-presents-its-pre-electoral-manifesto-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:05:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Policy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2993</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Monday, April 9, ARF-D held a presentation of its pre-electoral platform, at Erebuni Plaza Business Center. The opening remarks were given by ARF-D member Aghvan Vardanyan who expressed his belief that the party’s campaign will be victorious. “The pre-electoral campaign should be found on political platforms and objectives” he said. Bureau member Davit Lokyan, introduced the platform’s basic lines and addressing the audience said: “Yes, there is a maximalistic approach in our platform” and added that if ARF-D has the majority of seats in the Parliament then for the next five years it will strive so that the citizens of Armenia can enjoy true freedom. For ARF-D, the more active engagement of Armenia in the European integration process while at the same time preserving the relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Asian institutions, stand as a top foreign policy priority. Lokyan also emphasized on the needs of an intensive GDP growth as well as of a fair and fast distribution of wealth that are in the core of the social-economic policy of the party. In respect to trade and export increase, he placed Diaspora’s role on the highest level saying that “for Armenia, to have such [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Armenian Delegation Sums Up the Works of the Euronest PA Meeting Held in Baku</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/05/armenian-delegation-sums-up-the-works-of-the-euronest-pa-meeting-held-in-baku/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/05/armenian-delegation-sums-up-the-works-of-the-euronest-pa-meeting-held-in-baku/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2950</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Members of the Armenian delegation who returned from Baku, Azerbaijan, and the 2nd plenary session of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly which was held in Baku on April 2-4, during a press briefing at the National Assembly, said the meeting was positive, despite the inflammatory rhetoric that grabbed headlines. The Head of the Armenian delegation and chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF- Dashnaktsutyun) parliamentary faction, Vahan Hovhannesyan considered the second plenary meeting the first one that succeeded, as during the previous one they did not succeed to come to mutual agreement and adopt resolutions. At the same time he highly appreciated the results of the three-day works and thanked the members of the Delegation for cooperation, as well as for resoluteness and bravery. The Head of the Delegation deemed right and justified the decision of the Armenian MPs to leave for Baku. In Vahan Hovhannesyan’s word, before the plenary meeting the Armenian delegation participated actively in the discussion of different reports of Euronest PA’s four committees. Vahan Hovhannesyan said that the first day of the session passed quietly, however, the next day Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev started his speech using anti-Armenian statements. Hovhannesyan said Aliyev’s speech exceeded all expectations. “He [Aliyev] [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/05/armenian-delegation-sums-up-the-works-of-the-euronest-pa-meeting-held-in-baku/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Armenian Opposition, Coalition Party Vow Joint Effort Against Vote Rigging</title>
		<link>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/04/armenian-opposition-coalition-party-vow-joint-effort-against-vote-rigging/</link>
		<comments>http://www.arfd.info/2012/04/04/armenian-opposition-coalition-party-vow-joint-effort-against-vote-rigging/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:20:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Democracy & Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliamentary Elections 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.arfd.info/?p=2955</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Armenia’s second largest party in the governing opposition and three main opposition groups today pledged to work together in trying to prevent possible vote rigging in next month’s parliamentary elections. In an unprecedented joint declaration, the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) as well as the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and the Heritage (Zharangutyun) party announced the establishment of the Inter-Party Center For Public Oversight Of the Elections. They said the conduct of the May 6 vote “in accordance with European standards” is vital for the country’s future. Senior representatives of the four political forces signed the document following a meeting that was also attended by Galust Sahakyan, a deputy chairman of President Serzh Sargsyan’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). Sahakyan refused to put the HHK’s signature on the potentially far-reaching deal, dismissing it as an anti-government ploy. Sahakyan argued that there is no need for such an anti-fraud structure because the outgoing National Assembly has already set up an ad hoc tasked with preventing vote irregularities. “If they don’t believe in the National Assembly, why should I believe them?” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. Sahakyan also chided the BHK for signing the statement before discussing [...]]]></description>
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