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HOVANNISIAN PREDICTS ELECTION TRIUMPH
By Emil Danielyan, Astghik Bedevian, and Satenik Vantsian in Gyumri
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
May 4 2007
Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian claimed on Friday that his
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party will garner more votes than any other
political force if the May 12 parliamentary elections meet democratic
standards.
"We are confident that if the vote count on May 12 is fair,
Zharangutyun will be in the lead with a plurality of votes,"
Hovannisian said as he rallied about a hundred supporters in central
Yerevan.
His aides blamed heavy rain for the poor attendance of the rally,
saying that Hovannisian's campaign trips to other parts of Armenia
generated much more public enthusiasm. Few analysts consider
Zharangutyun an election favorite, even though its U.S.-born leader is
widely regarded as one of the most popular opposition leaders, however.
Still, Hovannisian appeared buoyed by his party's first-ever election
campaign, telling the small crowd that May 12 will mark the "dawn of a
new era" in the country's post-Soviet history. "Armenia's legislative
and executive authorities will no longer be vulnerable and will enjoy
the absolute trust of the people," he said.
Hovannisian warned the Armenian authorities against falsifying the vote
results but would not be drawn on his party's possible post-election
actions. "We believe that May 12 will see Armenia's first electoral
victory since 1991, and if the vote count reflects that reality,
there will be no need for post-election civic initiatives," he told
RFE/RL after the speech. "If there are falsifications, we will make
our decision after May 12. But right now we don't think about that."
Hovannisian did not rule out the possibility of Zharangutyun joining
three other, more radical opposition groups that plan to launch a joint
campaign of anti-government demonstrations after the vote which they
claim will almost certainly be rigged. "I welcome their activities
and respect their views," he said. "And if the elections are rigged,
the entire nation will unite and assert its rights."
The Hanrapetutyun (Republic) and Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) parties
as well as the Impeachment bloc rallied thousands of supporters in
Yerevan on Thursday, urging them to get ready for sustained street
protests against President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian. Their leaders reaffirmed their plans at a joint news
conference the next day.
"Don't rig, don't steal votes," Hanrapetutyun leader Aram Sarkisian
said, addressing the authorities. "If you steal votes, we will rise
up and will fight against you in the streets."
Also threatening to "take to the streets and fight" was Stepan
Demirchian, another opposition heavyweight who has not shared
Hanrapetutyun's uncompromising stance until now. Demirchian issued the
warning as he campaigned in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri
on Friday. He would not specify whether his People's Party of Armenia
is ready to join forces with the radical opposition.
By Emil Danielyan, Astghik Bedevian, and Satenik Vantsian in Gyumri
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
May 4 2007
Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian claimed on Friday that his
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party will garner more votes than any other
political force if the May 12 parliamentary elections meet democratic
standards.
"We are confident that if the vote count on May 12 is fair,
Zharangutyun will be in the lead with a plurality of votes,"
Hovannisian said as he rallied about a hundred supporters in central
Yerevan.
His aides blamed heavy rain for the poor attendance of the rally,
saying that Hovannisian's campaign trips to other parts of Armenia
generated much more public enthusiasm. Few analysts consider
Zharangutyun an election favorite, even though its U.S.-born leader is
widely regarded as one of the most popular opposition leaders, however.
Still, Hovannisian appeared buoyed by his party's first-ever election
campaign, telling the small crowd that May 12 will mark the "dawn of a
new era" in the country's post-Soviet history. "Armenia's legislative
and executive authorities will no longer be vulnerable and will enjoy
the absolute trust of the people," he said.
Hovannisian warned the Armenian authorities against falsifying the vote
results but would not be drawn on his party's possible post-election
actions. "We believe that May 12 will see Armenia's first electoral
victory since 1991, and if the vote count reflects that reality,
there will be no need for post-election civic initiatives," he told
RFE/RL after the speech. "If there are falsifications, we will make
our decision after May 12. But right now we don't think about that."
Hovannisian did not rule out the possibility of Zharangutyun joining
three other, more radical opposition groups that plan to launch a joint
campaign of anti-government demonstrations after the vote which they
claim will almost certainly be rigged. "I welcome their activities
and respect their views," he said. "And if the elections are rigged,
the entire nation will unite and assert its rights."
The Hanrapetutyun (Republic) and Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) parties
as well as the Impeachment bloc rallied thousands of supporters in
Yerevan on Thursday, urging them to get ready for sustained street
protests against President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian. Their leaders reaffirmed their plans at a joint news
conference the next day.
"Don't rig, don't steal votes," Hanrapetutyun leader Aram Sarkisian
said, addressing the authorities. "If you steal votes, we will rise
up and will fight against you in the streets."
Also threatening to "take to the streets and fight" was Stepan
Demirchian, another opposition heavyweight who has not shared
Hanrapetutyun's uncompromising stance until now. Demirchian issued the
warning as he campaigned in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri
on Friday. He would not specify whether his People's Party of Armenia
is ready to join forces with the radical opposition.