December

3 NCI founder Raffi K. Hovannisian attends German Embassy reception to bid farewell to the Italian Ambassador, confers with German Ambassador Hans-Wulf Bartels, Italian Ambassador Paolo Andrea Trabalza, and Minister of National Security General Karlos Petrosian.

4 Raffi K. Hovannisian receives US Ambassador John Ordway.

Hovannisian attends Greek Embassy reception to bid farewell to the Italian Ambassador, confers with Greek Ambassador Antonios Vlavianos, Russian Ambassador Anatoliy Driukov, and French Ambassador Henry Cuny.

6 Raffi K. Hovannisian gives press conference at the National Press Club on his participation in the forthcoming presidential elections.

7 Hovannisian visits earthquake zone, lays wreaths at Giumri and Spitak memorials to the victims of the 1988 disaster.

Hovannisian attends Egyptian Embassy reception, confers with Ambassador Bakri Roushdy El-Ammari.

10 Raffi K. Hovannisian attends Human Rights Day celebration organized by the United Nations Office, confers with Joel Boutroue, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

Hovannisian appears on Kentron television’s “Business Card” program, speaks on 2003 presidential elections.

Hovannisian gives interview to Voice of America on Armenian presidential developments.

14 NCI coordinator Hrach Hakobian attends book presentation of Hambardzum Galstian charity foundation.

19 Aib Fe daily, reporting from the Armenian countryside attests to Hovannisian’s unrivaled popularity in Vardenik village and elsewhere.

Hrach Hakobian attends “Supreme Council” Deputy Club session on the formation of a Republic Electoral Committee.

20 An article by Dr. Khoren Palian, senior lecturer of Armenian History and Language at Yerevan State University entitled “Why I Believe in Raffi K. Hovannisian” is published in Aravot daily.

Urartu weekly prints an article titled “Choosing the Right Path” on Raffi Hovannisian’s presidential candidacy.

21 NCI coordinator Hrach Hakobian attends second congress of the National Democratic Party (NDP), confers with party leader Shavarsh Kocharian.

23 RFE/RL’s Yerevan bureau and Arka News Agency report on NDP’s endorsement of Hovannisian’s candidacy.

In “A Retrospective View of the Ending Year,” Noyan Tapan Highlights finds that “Raffi K. Hoavannisian is the most rated politician of the country as of today... In our estimation he has become the front-runner in mid-December, i.e. in less than three weeks after announcing his nomination as a presidential candidate. The attempt of the ‘ruling party’ to frustrate the registration of Raffi Hovannisian’s candidacy may prove a fatal mistake in 2003.”

24 Raffi Hovannisian attends Russian Embassy reception on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, confers with Ambassador Anatoliy Driukov.

26 Raffi K. Hovannisian gives interview to Prometevs television on the presidential elections.

An article on Hovannisian’s candidacy entitled “The Imperative of our Alternative” is published in Aravot daily.

Hrach Hakobian attends and addresses a specialized seminar on the pre-election situation in Armenia.

27 Raffi K. Hovannisian’s policy address delivered at a town hall meeting in Yerevan is covered by all Armenian television channels, radio stations, newspapers, and news agencies.