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HOVANNISIAN TELLS SARGISIAN TO CONCEDE TO 'PEOPLE'S VICTORY'
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/02/21/hovannisian-tells-sargisian-to-concede-to-peoples-victory/
ARMENIA, INTERNATIONAL NEWS | FEBRUARY 21, 2013 1:36 PM
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) - 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, suggesting that the
officially declared president-elect, Serge Sargisian, should concede
defeat.
Hovannisian, a 53-year-old US-born lawyer who leads the opposition
Heritage party, gave Sargisian until 5 p.m. 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 and his supporters to take "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 on Monday, President Sargisian
polled around 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian gained the
support of close to 37 percent of Armenian voters. Hovannisian,
however, stated Tuesday 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 Serge, 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," said Hovannisian.
"Close to midnight yesterday I urged our main competitor, Mr.
Sargisian, our current president, who had a great contribution to the
Karabagh 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. It's
not [too] late yet. Tomorrow, at 5 p.m., we will all meet here for a
pan-national rally and before that I [invite] Mr. Sargisian to have a
public or private meeting with me so that together we [can] 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." Those attending the rally
were mostly middle-aged and older, 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 they observed could not have affected the overall outcome.
Hovannisian insisted that such an opinion could not be foisted on the
Armenian people, adding that if Sargisian met his demand, he would be
"forgiven on behalf of the Armenian people and the law."
"I want to shake hands with Sargisian and tomorrow, before 5 p.m.,
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://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/02/21/hovannisian-tells-sargisian-to-concede-to-peoples-victory/
ARMENIA, INTERNATIONAL NEWS | FEBRUARY 21, 2013 1:36 PM
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) - 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, suggesting that the
officially declared president-elect, Serge Sargisian, should concede
defeat.
Hovannisian, a 53-year-old US-born lawyer who leads the opposition
Heritage party, gave Sargisian until 5 p.m. 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 and his supporters to take "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 on Monday, President Sargisian
polled around 59 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian gained the
support of close to 37 percent of Armenian voters. Hovannisian,
however, stated Tuesday 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 Serge, 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," said Hovannisian.
"Close to midnight yesterday I urged our main competitor, Mr.
Sargisian, our current president, who had a great contribution to the
Karabagh 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. It's
not [too] late yet. Tomorrow, at 5 p.m., we will all meet here for a
pan-national rally and before that I [invite] Mr. Sargisian to have a
public or private meeting with me so that together we [can] 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." Those attending the rally
were mostly middle-aged and older, 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 they observed could not have affected the overall outcome.
Hovannisian insisted that such an opinion could not be foisted on the
Armenian people, adding that if Sargisian met his demand, he would be
"forgiven on behalf of the Armenian people and the law."
"I want to shake hands with Sargisian and tomorrow, before 5 p.m.,
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.