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HOVANNISIAN VOWS TO CONTINUE POPULAR MOVEMENT
http://asbarez.com/108428/hovannisian-vows-to-continue-popular-movement/
Friday, February 22nd, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Thousands gather at Liberty Square Friday at a rally, which has
grown into a popular movement (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The
Armenian Weekly)
ARF Joins the Movement
YEREVAN-"This popular struggle will not die down. We will achieve
victory," said opposition presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian
on Firday as he addressed thousands of supporters who had gathered
at Liberty Square to hear a briefing on his meeting Thursday with
Serzh Sarkisian at the Presidential Palace.
Hovannisian, who addressed the crowd that has been multiplying
exponentially since Monday's elections, reported that Sarkisian
rejected all of his proposals, which aimed to satisfy the aspirations
of Armenia's citizens following the presidential polls.
Raffi Hovannisian beriefs protesters on his meeting with Serzh
Sarkisian Thursday (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly)
Hovannisian said that among the points discussed with Sarkisian was
holding of repeat elections, the response to which was a "No." He
then proposed snap parliamentary elections based on a representative
system. "What do you think was the answer? No," said Hovannisian.
"I have nothing to say to these de facto leaders anymore," added
Hovannisian, who announced that he would be expanding this movement
to regions outside of Yerevan with rallies in Vanadzor, Gyumri and
elsewhere. He asked the people to reconvene at Liberty Square at 3
p.m. Sunday to further the movement.
ARF Joins the Movement The Armenian Revolutionary Federation joined
the thousands upon thousands of Armenian citizens gathered at
Freedom Square Friday, with the party's Supreme Council of Armenia
representative Armen Rustamian delivering a powerful message of
solidarity with the people.
After a series of speeches by Raffi Hovannisian's Heritage Party
leaders, other opposition leaders, civil society activists, and
artists, Hovannisian introduced Rustamian, saying: "Today we are
joined by a political figure whose party, our party, the party of
my ancestors, in the name of the fatherland, unity, our national
interests, the rights of the citizen, and our state's sovereignty,
wages a struggle wherever it is necessary, from Strasbourg to Ankara
to Moscow to Washington.... Please welcome the representative of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Armen Rustamyan."
ARF Supreme Council representative Armen Rustamian says the "Movement
is unstoppable" (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly)
Rustamian first spoke of the ARF decision to come to Freedom Square.
"For a few days now, Freedom Square was waiting for-and wanted to
see-the ARF. And we are now here! We have come here, to this rally,
because as we announced earlier, the ARF stands with you, with the
people," he said.
Rustamian noted that the Armenian people proved on Feb. 18 that
it's impossible to kill justice and freedom. He said, "The people
does not tolerate the rotten political, social, economic, and moral
environment."
Rustamian joined other opposition leaders at the rally in their
criticism of the statements of international observers, who deemed the
elections fair. "Regardless of what the international observers say,
it is you who took part in the election, and you know all too well
what really happened," Rustamian said.
"This is an unstoppable movement to establish the rule of the people,"
argued Rustamian.
http://asbarez.com/108428/hovannisian-vows-to-continue-popular-movement/
Friday, February 22nd, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Thousands gather at Liberty Square Friday at a rally, which has
grown into a popular movement (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The
Armenian Weekly)
ARF Joins the Movement
YEREVAN-"This popular struggle will not die down. We will achieve
victory," said opposition presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian
on Firday as he addressed thousands of supporters who had gathered
at Liberty Square to hear a briefing on his meeting Thursday with
Serzh Sarkisian at the Presidential Palace.
Hovannisian, who addressed the crowd that has been multiplying
exponentially since Monday's elections, reported that Sarkisian
rejected all of his proposals, which aimed to satisfy the aspirations
of Armenia's citizens following the presidential polls.
Raffi Hovannisian beriefs protesters on his meeting with Serzh
Sarkisian Thursday (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly)
Hovannisian said that among the points discussed with Sarkisian was
holding of repeat elections, the response to which was a "No." He
then proposed snap parliamentary elections based on a representative
system. "What do you think was the answer? No," said Hovannisian.
"I have nothing to say to these de facto leaders anymore," added
Hovannisian, who announced that he would be expanding this movement
to regions outside of Yerevan with rallies in Vanadzor, Gyumri and
elsewhere. He asked the people to reconvene at Liberty Square at 3
p.m. Sunday to further the movement.
ARF Joins the Movement The Armenian Revolutionary Federation joined
the thousands upon thousands of Armenian citizens gathered at
Freedom Square Friday, with the party's Supreme Council of Armenia
representative Armen Rustamian delivering a powerful message of
solidarity with the people.
After a series of speeches by Raffi Hovannisian's Heritage Party
leaders, other opposition leaders, civil society activists, and
artists, Hovannisian introduced Rustamian, saying: "Today we are
joined by a political figure whose party, our party, the party of
my ancestors, in the name of the fatherland, unity, our national
interests, the rights of the citizen, and our state's sovereignty,
wages a struggle wherever it is necessary, from Strasbourg to Ankara
to Moscow to Washington.... Please welcome the representative of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Armen Rustamyan."
ARF Supreme Council representative Armen Rustamian says the "Movement
is unstoppable" (photo by Khatchig Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly)
Rustamian first spoke of the ARF decision to come to Freedom Square.
"For a few days now, Freedom Square was waiting for-and wanted to
see-the ARF. And we are now here! We have come here, to this rally,
because as we announced earlier, the ARF stands with you, with the
people," he said.
Rustamian noted that the Armenian people proved on Feb. 18 that
it's impossible to kill justice and freedom. He said, "The people
does not tolerate the rotten political, social, economic, and moral
environment."
Rustamian joined other opposition leaders at the rally in their
criticism of the statements of international observers, who deemed the
elections fair. "Regardless of what the international observers say,
it is you who took part in the election, and you know all too well
what really happened," Rustamian said.
"This is an unstoppable movement to establish the rule of the people,"
argued Rustamian.