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MARCH 22, 2013, LIBERTY SQUARE - RAFFI HOVANNISIAN MAKES FINAL "COMPROMISE" OFFER TO SARGSYAN
Hrant Gadarigian
http://hetq.am/eng/news/24741/march-22-2013-liberty-square-%E2%80%93-raffi-hovannisian-makes-final-compromise-offer-to-sargsyan.html
19:15, March 22, 2013
Calls for a number of state agencies and ministries to be handed over
An overflowing crowd of thousands filled Yerevan's Liberty Square
this evening in the latest round of Raffi Hovannisian's Barevolution.
An intense encounter unfolded between a top police official and Raffi
Hovannisian over the unfurling of an Armenian tri-color banner around
the base of the Hovhannes Tumanyan statue.
The police official was arguing a point of law that allegedly bans the
"defacement of cultural monuments".
The two stood nose to nose, the police official arguing that the law
had been violated, and Hovannisian arguing that the police did nothing
on February 18 to stop election violations and thus, depriving the
people of their legal ballot.
The tri-color banner remained where it was.
All the while, Raffi Hovannisian's parents Richard and Vartiter were
sitting below watching the incident unfold. Earlier, Hovannisian's
parents waved to the crowd from the steps of the Opera House.
Raffi Hovannisian then took a few minutes to present the unified "Barev
Yerevan" ticket for the upcoming May Yerevan municipal elections.
That ticket is headed by Heritage Party member Armen Martirosyan.
Adopting a more defiant tone, Hovannisian said that he would not
permit other forces to manipulate or exploit the people in Liberty
Square for partisan and narrow personal interests.
Hovannisian then read a statement that he said would be presented to
Serzh Sargsyan including a list of proposals as an exit strategy out
of the political stalemate.
He called on Sargsyan to meet the people half way.
He proposed snap parliamentary elections during 2013 on a 100%
proportional basis and a contract to be signed between Raffi
Hovannisian and Serzh Sargsyan that would remain in effect until
said elections.
The contract calls for the dismissal of five Regional Governors and
their replacement with individuals nominated by Hovannisian.
Hovannisian, in his contract to Sargsyan, also calls for the following
state bodies to be handed over to the opposition - Prosecutor General's
Office, Tax Agency, National Security Service, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science.
After reading the document, Raffi Hovannisian then sat and signed
the document.
The next figure to address the crowd was Ashot Manoucharyan, a leader
of the Karabakh Committee.
In a rousing speech, he said the time had come for the people to take
back the power of the government.
Manoucharyan called for the immediate convocation of a people's
congress that would see to it that he natural resources of Armenia
be used for educating the children of Armenia and for covering their
medical expenses.
Armen Martirosyan then invited Raffi's father Richard Hovannisian to
the microphone.
He said that he had originally opposed Raffi's nomination for president
but now is pleasantly surprised that the people had supported his son.
Richard Hovannisian called for dialogue and compromise and related
the story of the visit of Catholicos Vazgen I to the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Montebello, California.
Hovannisian recounted that Catholics Vazgen approached the monument
and noted that just like Jesus, who was resurrected after third day
of his crucifixion, the Armenian people were reborn on May 28, 1918,
a mere three years after the national crucifixion of the Genocide.
He concluded by saying that he hoped and believed that the sufferings
of the people and the tribulations of his son Raffi would not be in
vain but rather would result in a national rebirth.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Hrant Gadarigian
http://hetq.am/eng/news/24741/march-22-2013-liberty-square-%E2%80%93-raffi-hovannisian-makes-final-compromise-offer-to-sargsyan.html
19:15, March 22, 2013
Calls for a number of state agencies and ministries to be handed over
An overflowing crowd of thousands filled Yerevan's Liberty Square
this evening in the latest round of Raffi Hovannisian's Barevolution.
An intense encounter unfolded between a top police official and Raffi
Hovannisian over the unfurling of an Armenian tri-color banner around
the base of the Hovhannes Tumanyan statue.
The police official was arguing a point of law that allegedly bans the
"defacement of cultural monuments".
The two stood nose to nose, the police official arguing that the law
had been violated, and Hovannisian arguing that the police did nothing
on February 18 to stop election violations and thus, depriving the
people of their legal ballot.
The tri-color banner remained where it was.
All the while, Raffi Hovannisian's parents Richard and Vartiter were
sitting below watching the incident unfold. Earlier, Hovannisian's
parents waved to the crowd from the steps of the Opera House.
Raffi Hovannisian then took a few minutes to present the unified "Barev
Yerevan" ticket for the upcoming May Yerevan municipal elections.
That ticket is headed by Heritage Party member Armen Martirosyan.
Adopting a more defiant tone, Hovannisian said that he would not
permit other forces to manipulate or exploit the people in Liberty
Square for partisan and narrow personal interests.
Hovannisian then read a statement that he said would be presented to
Serzh Sargsyan including a list of proposals as an exit strategy out
of the political stalemate.
He called on Sargsyan to meet the people half way.
He proposed snap parliamentary elections during 2013 on a 100%
proportional basis and a contract to be signed between Raffi
Hovannisian and Serzh Sargsyan that would remain in effect until
said elections.
The contract calls for the dismissal of five Regional Governors and
their replacement with individuals nominated by Hovannisian.
Hovannisian, in his contract to Sargsyan, also calls for the following
state bodies to be handed over to the opposition - Prosecutor General's
Office, Tax Agency, National Security Service, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science.
After reading the document, Raffi Hovannisian then sat and signed
the document.
The next figure to address the crowd was Ashot Manoucharyan, a leader
of the Karabakh Committee.
In a rousing speech, he said the time had come for the people to take
back the power of the government.
Manoucharyan called for the immediate convocation of a people's
congress that would see to it that he natural resources of Armenia
be used for educating the children of Armenia and for covering their
medical expenses.
Armen Martirosyan then invited Raffi's father Richard Hovannisian to
the microphone.
He said that he had originally opposed Raffi's nomination for president
but now is pleasantly surprised that the people had supported his son.
Richard Hovannisian called for dialogue and compromise and related
the story of the visit of Catholicos Vazgen I to the Armenian Genocide
Memorial in Montebello, California.
Hovannisian recounted that Catholics Vazgen approached the monument
and noted that just like Jesus, who was resurrected after third day
of his crucifixion, the Armenian people were reborn on May 28, 1918,
a mere three years after the national crucifixion of the Genocide.
He concluded by saying that he hoped and believed that the sufferings
of the people and the tribulations of his son Raffi would not be in
vain but rather would result in a national rebirth.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress