YEREVAN, Nov. 28 (RFE/RL) - President Robert Kocharian, on Tuesday, criticized the governing Miasnutyun (Unity) bloc for its efforts to delay the introduction of sweeping electoral reform for fear of pre-term elections that could end the alliance's status as the largest parliamentary force.

Miasnutyun, which is led by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, is trying to ensure that recent amendments in Armenia's election law -- which will radically change the way the next parliament is elected -- come into force no sooner than 2003. The next legislative polls will be held that year unless Kocharian decides to dissolve the current National Assembly.

"If people have some concerns or suffer from suspicion, I have no problems with fixing a date," Kocharian told reporters. "But things will be much simpler if nothing is fixed."

A Miasnutyun source told RFE/RL that he made similar remarks during a meeting with the bloc's parliamentary faction the previous night.

Kocharian, who has ruled out the parliament's early dissolution, asked if their insistence on the year 2003 attests to their "mistrust" in the head of state, the source said.

According to the faction's newly elected chairman, Galust Sahakian, the bloc trusts in the president's sincerity and is simply concerned that other parties would "create tensions" to achieve a fresh vote. The deputy speaker of the parliament, Tigran Torosian, explained on his part that Miasnutyun wants the change of the election law in favor of the proportional representation system to be part of a wider package of reforms that would also include amendments in the constitution and the law on political parties.

It remained unclear, however, if Miasnutyun deputies will insist on the 2003 date when parliament discusses the matter next month. Torosian said the assembly will find "a solution that will dispel the concerns of both Miasnutyun and the president of the republic."

Observers believe that the bloc, which lost its two charismatic leaders in last year's parliament carnage, would perform worse than it did in 1999 if elections were to be held now. With 94 out of 131 parliament seats to be contested on the party-list basis, most of the country's other top parties would substantially bolster their positions.

Kocharian's unexpected support for the new system earlier this month fueled speculations that he wants to further reduce Miasnutyun's role in the political life. The Miasnutyun source, who asked not to be identified, said Kocharian assured the bloc's leaders on Monday that he will not side with any Armenian party and therefore has no reason to disband the legislature.