Kurdish organization not to run in Armenian elections

Text of report by Armenian news agency Snark on 15th May

Yerevan, 14th May: "The upcoming parliamentary elections

involve various political games and we have decided it is not

necessary to take part in these games," declared the chairman

of the Kurdistan public organization of Kurds in Armenia,

Charkyaze Rash.

He said that the Kurdish community had failed to nominate

candidates for the elections not through negligence but out of

a decision based on a thorough study of the chances of any

Kurdish leaders winning at the elections. Rash said it was

senseless today to enter a political game that might yield

unpredictable consequences. He is sure that one should not

incite excessive passions or "muddy waters that are already

muddy enough".

At the same time, the Kurdish leader said assistance by

Kurds to certain parties during the election could have a

considerable impact on the election results, as the Kurdish

community of 50,000 people (about 30,000 voters) has a fondness

for certain political parties [not specified].

Source: Snark news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 0500 gmt 15 May

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