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CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS: LTP SAYS SATAN WILL DESTROY HOVANNISIAN
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
22.03.11
On Tuesday, Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, who has been
on hunger strike in Liberty Square for a week, responded to first
President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan's criticism, saying that
Hovannisian's public fasting contradicts Christianity.
In an oppositional newspaper Ter-Petrosyan, clarifying why he did not
meet Hovannisian, who was on hunger strike during the opposition's
March 17 rally, said, "Because it contradicts my principles of
Christianity," according to which, "fasting should not be turned into
show," and that "Satan destroys both the one who is fasting and his
fast when the person puts himself above all the rest and wishes that
his abstinence be trumpeted about by others and people learn about
it and admire his staunchness."
Hovannisian, at a press conference called in Liberty Square, stated
that his hunger strike "is a modest political alarm, and it cannot be
included within the frameworks of a Christian ritual." He added that,
in the spirit of Christianity, he "honestly and with love wishes
the first president of Armenia [Ter-Petrosyan] God's blessing and
long-lasting life."
"I entered Liberty Square as a proud citizen to fulfill my political,
civil, and constitutional rights, and I did not aim to hold a
Christian ritual," Hovannisian said, adding, "If someone wishes
me Satan's destruction, it's the right of that person. However, I
can suggest all of us reading and citing Hovhan Mandakuni's passage
(a source drawn from by Ter-Petrosyan), which speaks about having a
grudge and seeking revenge."
Ter-Petrosyan also said, "Had instead of public fasting Raffi
Hovannisian announced a hunger strike with concrete political demands,
I not only would have welcomed it but would also have expressed full
support for him."
Responding to this statement, Hovannisian said that his demands have
been clearly mentioned in the 21-point statement of political demands,
approved at the March 13 session of the Heritage Party. Later on
March 15, he presented all his demands in his speech and went on a
hunger strike.
As far as "this issue is being speculated upon in both pro-government
and opposition circles," Hovannisian considered it to be necessary to
present his demands, consisting of 15 points, more simply once again.
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
22.03.11
On Tuesday, Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian, who has been
on hunger strike in Liberty Square for a week, responded to first
President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan's criticism, saying that
Hovannisian's public fasting contradicts Christianity.
In an oppositional newspaper Ter-Petrosyan, clarifying why he did not
meet Hovannisian, who was on hunger strike during the opposition's
March 17 rally, said, "Because it contradicts my principles of
Christianity," according to which, "fasting should not be turned into
show," and that "Satan destroys both the one who is fasting and his
fast when the person puts himself above all the rest and wishes that
his abstinence be trumpeted about by others and people learn about
it and admire his staunchness."
Hovannisian, at a press conference called in Liberty Square, stated
that his hunger strike "is a modest political alarm, and it cannot be
included within the frameworks of a Christian ritual." He added that,
in the spirit of Christianity, he "honestly and with love wishes
the first president of Armenia [Ter-Petrosyan] God's blessing and
long-lasting life."
"I entered Liberty Square as a proud citizen to fulfill my political,
civil, and constitutional rights, and I did not aim to hold a
Christian ritual," Hovannisian said, adding, "If someone wishes
me Satan's destruction, it's the right of that person. However, I
can suggest all of us reading and citing Hovhan Mandakuni's passage
(a source drawn from by Ter-Petrosyan), which speaks about having a
grudge and seeking revenge."
Ter-Petrosyan also said, "Had instead of public fasting Raffi
Hovannisian announced a hunger strike with concrete political demands,
I not only would have welcomed it but would also have expressed full
support for him."
Responding to this statement, Hovannisian said that his demands have
been clearly mentioned in the 21-point statement of political demands,
approved at the March 13 session of the Heritage Party. Later on
March 15, he presented all his demands in his speech and went on a
hunger strike.
As far as "this issue is being speculated upon in both pro-government
and opposition circles," Hovannisian considered it to be necessary to
present his demands, consisting of 15 points, more simply once again.
From: A. Papazian