Presidential candidate Aram Harutyunyan does not agree with his challenger Andreas Ghukasyan's proposal that all candidates should pull out of the race before January 15.
In an open letter addressed to Aram Harutyunyan, Arman Melikyan, Hrant Bagratyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan, Vardan Sedrakyan and Raffi Hovannisian earlier on Jan. 11, Mr Ghukasyan called for active measures to launch a civil movement in Armenia in an attempt to achieve drastic changes.
It is important that the candidate use the period of the election campaign and prepare the public. It is similarly important that they substantiate their decision to withdraw from the race," Aram Harutyunyan told A1+.
The leader of the National Accord Party does not rule out the possibility of withdrawing his candidacy only after making use of the free airtime during the campaign.
Ghukasyan's proposal has angered the Paruyr Hayrikyan, Chairman of the Union for National Self-Determination, ‘who has been engaged in national strategic issues throughout his life.'
"How can he [Andreas Ghukasyan] reserve the right to issue orders through the media, if he has not taken any steps," said Mr Hayrikyan.
"People expect us to take practical steps, rather than wage a senseless struggle. I call on the candidates to jointly withdraw their candidacies by January 15 of this year and jointly launch a universal civil movement for the sake of drastic reforms," Ghukasyan said in his address.
