November 29, 2002 - 22:59 AMT
NUMBER OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES GROWS
Applications for registration of another three presidential candidates at the coming elections in February 2003 were submitted to the central electoral commission of Armenia today. Applications were received for registering leader of the Democratic party of Armenia Aram Sargsian, leader of National-Democratic union Vazgen Manukian, as well as deputy chairman of "Hayrenik yev Pativ" (Fatherland and Honor) party Garnik Margarian. Thus, 10 people pretend to the office of the Armenian leader by today. Earlier acting Armenian president Robert Kocharian, leader of People's party Stepan Demirchian, chairman of "National Self-Determination" association Paruyr Hayrikian, political scientist Aram Karapetian, chief of the Armenian Center for National and International Research Raffi Hovhannisian, leader of "United Armenians" party Ruben Avagian, leader of "National Unification" party Artashes Geghamian applied for being registered as presidential candidates.