YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of National Assembly deputies representing the coalition parties on March 17 called for an atmosphere of tolerance at the upcoming elections of Yerevan mayor. Member of the NA "Republican Party of Armenia" (RPA) faction, spokesman for RPA Edward Sharmazanov said that parties rather than individuals will compete at the elections of Yerevan's mayor and Council of Aldermen, and the party to win the elections will assume responsibility for the activity of its mayor. Calling on all the parties to engage in civilized competition, E. Sharmazanov considered as unacceptable the propaganda conducted against "Heritage" party after the parliamentary opposition had announced its decision not to unite with the Armenian National Congress at the elections of mayor. Member of "RPA" faction Armen Ashotian considered the black propaganda against the candidate leading the RPA's list as unacceptable (to recap, the head of Yerevan's Kentron community Gagik Beglarian (nickname "Chyorny (Black) Gago") leads the list of the RPA). The deputy called for tolerance, expressing a hope that irrespective of which party will win the elections, the mayor's elections "will allow overcoming the March 1 complex". "Prosperous Armenia" faction's member Naira Zohrabian also called on the political forces running in mayor's elections to be tolerant. In her words, the policy of "black PR" adopted by some forces may result in an internal political propaganda war, in which there will be no winners.

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