ETHNIC ARMENIAN PARTY IN GEORGIA SEEKS TO RUN IN ELECTION

TBILISI, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS:The ethnic Armenian party Virk, operating in Georgia°s predominantly Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti region, is planning to hold a congress in the near future, Virk leader David Rstkyan told Prime-News. Rstkyan said that the party congress, which is likely to take place in mid-October, will be dedicated to the issues relating to getting Virk registered by the Georgian Ministry of Justice and to running in the parliamentary elections of 2003. Rstkyan said that the party had applied more than once for registration with the Justice Ministry but the issue remained unresolved. Furthermore, Virk cannot run in the upcoming parliamentary elections as it is still not registered, he said. Rstkyan said that if the party gets registered, it would have a chance to get representation in parliament and thus protect the interests of the Armenians residing in Samtskhe-Javakheti.-0-/39/