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DECISION 2013: HOVANNISIAN DELIVERS VAGUE ULTIMATUM; TELLS SARGSYAN TO CONCEDE TO "PEOPLE'S VICTORY"
News | 19.02.13 | 20:27
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in the February 18
presidential election, gathered his supporters in Yerevan's central
Liberty Square late Tuesday afternoon to declare himself the rightful
winner of the election and suggesting that the officially declared
president-elect, Serzh Sargsyan, concede his defeat.
Hovannisian, a 53-year-old United States-born lawyer who leads the
opposition Heritage party, gave Sargsyan until 5 pm Wednesday to
accept "the people's victory" and start the process of the transition
of power to the people. Otherwise, he warned, the incumbent needs to
be prepared for Hovannisian's and his supporters' "further steps."
The opposition candidate did not elaborate on what those steps
might be.
According to the preliminary results of the Monday ballot announced
by the Central Election Commission earlier today President Sargsyan
polled around 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian gained the
support of close to 37 percent of Armenian voters. Hovannisian,
however, stated today that the election was rigged with "widespread
fraud" and that he was the real "elected president".
"It is clear to everyone that the Armenian people gained an 80 to
20 victory yesterday, it has celebrated and will make a reality
our national civil victory. No one will take this victory from our
conscience, voice and our constitutional right. It belongs not to
Raffi or Serzh, or others, but it belongs to the Armenians, to all
of our citizens, and let no one, whatever his name or position is,
dare take this right away from our people," emphasized Hovannisian.
"Close to midnight yesterday I urged our main competitor, Mr.
Sargsyan, our current president, who had a great contribution to the
Karabakh liberation and statecraft, to become the first president
in 20 years to have the right, courage and morality to accept the
people's victory. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to do that until
now. It's not late yet. Tomorrow, at 5 pm, we will all meet here for
a pan-national rally and before that I offer to Mr. Sargsyan to have
a public or private meeting with me so that together we organize the
transition of power to the people of Armenia."
Supporters and activists who came to the meeting with Hovannisian
- their number reaching some 3,000 - occasionally chanted "Raffi
President" or "Raffi, Elected President". Mostly middle-aged and
elderly people were attending the rally, although there were also
young supporters among the participants.
Speaking about the violations that took place during the election,
Hovannisian said that they were occurring everywhere and that
eventually it proved to be a rigged and unfair election, failing to
reflect the will of the people. Meanwhile, international observers who
monitored the Armenian elections said on Tuesday that the "serious"
violations observed by them could not have affected the overall
outcome.
Hovannisian insisted that such an opinion could not be foisted on the
Armenian people, adding that if Sargsyan met his demand, he would be
"forgiven on behalf of the Armenian people and the law."
"I want to shake hands with Sargsyan and tomorrow, before 5 pm,
accept his congratulations on the victory of the Armenian people,"
said the Heritage Party leader.
Hovannisian also declared that he was ready to cooperate with all
political forces in forming a future government.
"All can become forces participating in the future legitimate
government of national accord. I reckon that the time for
partisanship has gone and civil society and political forces must
come and participate not in the future government, but must become a
factor of public governance. For five years there will be Heritage,
Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia,
the Republicans and mostly non-partisan names, who will serve. But if
they deviate from the letter of the law, do business at the expense
of people, they will have to answer for that," said Hovannisian.
http://armenianow.com/news/43704/armenia_presidential_election_2013_raffi_hovannisi an_sargsyan_ultimatum
From: Baghdasarian
News | 19.02.13 | 20:27
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in the February 18
presidential election, gathered his supporters in Yerevan's central
Liberty Square late Tuesday afternoon to declare himself the rightful
winner of the election and suggesting that the officially declared
president-elect, Serzh Sargsyan, concede his defeat.
Hovannisian, a 53-year-old United States-born lawyer who leads the
opposition Heritage party, gave Sargsyan until 5 pm Wednesday to
accept "the people's victory" and start the process of the transition
of power to the people. Otherwise, he warned, the incumbent needs to
be prepared for Hovannisian's and his supporters' "further steps."
The opposition candidate did not elaborate on what those steps
might be.
According to the preliminary results of the Monday ballot announced
by the Central Election Commission earlier today President Sargsyan
polled around 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian gained the
support of close to 37 percent of Armenian voters. Hovannisian,
however, stated today that the election was rigged with "widespread
fraud" and that he was the real "elected president".
"It is clear to everyone that the Armenian people gained an 80 to
20 victory yesterday, it has celebrated and will make a reality
our national civil victory. No one will take this victory from our
conscience, voice and our constitutional right. It belongs not to
Raffi or Serzh, or others, but it belongs to the Armenians, to all
of our citizens, and let no one, whatever his name or position is,
dare take this right away from our people," emphasized Hovannisian.
"Close to midnight yesterday I urged our main competitor, Mr.
Sargsyan, our current president, who had a great contribution to the
Karabakh liberation and statecraft, to become the first president
in 20 years to have the right, courage and morality to accept the
people's victory. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to do that until
now. It's not late yet. Tomorrow, at 5 pm, we will all meet here for
a pan-national rally and before that I offer to Mr. Sargsyan to have
a public or private meeting with me so that together we organize the
transition of power to the people of Armenia."
Supporters and activists who came to the meeting with Hovannisian
- their number reaching some 3,000 - occasionally chanted "Raffi
President" or "Raffi, Elected President". Mostly middle-aged and
elderly people were attending the rally, although there were also
young supporters among the participants.
Speaking about the violations that took place during the election,
Hovannisian said that they were occurring everywhere and that
eventually it proved to be a rigged and unfair election, failing to
reflect the will of the people. Meanwhile, international observers who
monitored the Armenian elections said on Tuesday that the "serious"
violations observed by them could not have affected the overall
outcome.
Hovannisian insisted that such an opinion could not be foisted on the
Armenian people, adding that if Sargsyan met his demand, he would be
"forgiven on behalf of the Armenian people and the law."
"I want to shake hands with Sargsyan and tomorrow, before 5 pm,
accept his congratulations on the victory of the Armenian people,"
said the Heritage Party leader.
Hovannisian also declared that he was ready to cooperate with all
political forces in forming a future government.
"All can become forces participating in the future legitimate
government of national accord. I reckon that the time for
partisanship has gone and civil society and political forces must
come and participate not in the future government, but must become a
factor of public governance. For five years there will be Heritage,
Dashnaktsutyun, the Armenian National Congress, Prosperous Armenia,
the Republicans and mostly non-partisan names, who will serve. But if
they deviate from the letter of the law, do business at the expense
of people, they will have to answer for that," said Hovannisian.
http://armenianow.com/news/43704/armenia_presidential_election_2013_raffi_hovannisi an_sargsyan_ultimatum
From: Baghdasarian