Aram Sarkisian and Levon Ter Petrosian, Opposition Rally, Liberty Square, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007

As expected, the former president of Armenia, Levon Ter Petrosian, has announced that he will run in next year’s presidential election. The topic of much speculation in the media as well as among the public, Ter Petrosian made the announcement at an opposition rally staged in Yerevan’s Liberty Square in front of a crowd estimated to be between 10-15,000 people with the consensus of opinion from most journalists and analysts reckoning on 10-13,000.

Of course, pro-Ter Petrosian outlets such as A1 Plus put the figure at a totally unrealistic 35-40,000 while even Radio Free Europe appears to over-estimate the number by putting it at “more than 20,000.” Bloggers such as Observer put the number at “around 10,000,” while the Associated Press reports “up to 15,000.” Whatever the figure, however, the crowd was respectable for an opposition rally, and not least for one that marked the return of a man who until recently many considered disgraced and unpopular.

AP focuses on what a Ter Petrosian presidency might mean for Armenia. In particular, this relates to Armenia’s relations with Turkey and resolution of the long-standing and still unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over the mainly Armenian-inhabited territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

If successful, his return to office could signal a major shift in Armenia’s fraught relations with neighbours Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Ter-Petrosian, 62, is an advocate of compromise with the two countries, which have closed their borders and imposed economic embargoes over Armenia’s support for the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh.

[…]

Armenia needed to end its regional isolation by normalising relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, he said.

“Until we have resolved the questions of the blockade of Armenia, relations with our neighbours and Karabakh, Armenia cannot develop and strengthen,” he said.

“As a result of the criminal policies of the current government, Azerbaijan has only toughened its position and will not seek compromise,” he added.

[…]

Analysts say Ter-Petrosian is perhaps the only Armenian politician with the clout and experience to mount a challenge to the current leadership.

The full post accompanied by many photographs is available on the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 Blog.