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ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT OFFERS 3 OPTIONS OF FUTURE TO LEADING OPPOSITIONIST
ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 19, 2013 Tuesday 06:35 AM GMT+4
- President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia sees three possible options that
might take the country's leading oppositionist, Raffi Hovannisian
of the Heritage party, out of the current political stalemate, the
president said in a joint televised that will be aired Tuesday.
When Sargsyan asked Hovannisian personally if the latter man is
confident of his victory in the presidential election held earlier
this year, the answer was negative but Hovannisian said his associates
in the Heritage party claimed the incumbent President had won the
election either.
"When Hovannisian heard a refusal to his proposals to hold a runoff
election or to repeat the second round of voting simultaneously with
dissolving parliament, he asked what he could possibly do in the
situation as it is," Sargsyan said
He believes the country's leading oppositionist has three options.
"Number one, Raffi Hovannisian goes to Freedom Square where he
continues claiming he received 80% votes in the election," Sargsyan
said. "Then he declares himself to be President and tries to set up
alternative power agencies. In this case, the /legitimate/ forces of
law and order will act in compliance with the duties vested in them."
"Option number two for Raffi Hovannisian is to continue claiming that
the election was not fair and that his percentage of votes exceeded
the official results of election," he said. "Then he consolidates the
structures reporting to him, takes part in the election of municipal
council in the capital Yerevan, becomes its mayor, and governs a
third of the country's population."
"Option number three is stop being an oppositionist, to get engaged
in the activity of the agencies of power, and to start the struggle
with corruption and emigration - something that he promised during
the election campaign," Sargsyan said.
As regards the third option, Hovannisian asked if the case in hand
was the setting up of a coalition with the ruling Republican Party,
led by the President.
"But any further discussions will be held only after Hovannisian
expresses a principled position," Sargsyan said.
The interlocutors agreed that each of them will send his proposals
to the opponent.
According to Sargsyan, he fulfilled the promise to send Hovannisian
his proposals for a referendum on changing Armenia's Constitution.
Hovannisian, on his part, did not send any proposals to the President
and spoke out against the contents of the Presidential address to
the nation.
Earlier, Sargsyan issued an invitation to Hovannisian, who emerged at
the second position from the election, to chair a council in charge
of drafting amendments to the Constitution.
From: A. Papazian
ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 19, 2013 Tuesday 06:35 AM GMT+4
- President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia sees three possible options that
might take the country's leading oppositionist, Raffi Hovannisian
of the Heritage party, out of the current political stalemate, the
president said in a joint televised that will be aired Tuesday.
When Sargsyan asked Hovannisian personally if the latter man is
confident of his victory in the presidential election held earlier
this year, the answer was negative but Hovannisian said his associates
in the Heritage party claimed the incumbent President had won the
election either.
"When Hovannisian heard a refusal to his proposals to hold a runoff
election or to repeat the second round of voting simultaneously with
dissolving parliament, he asked what he could possibly do in the
situation as it is," Sargsyan said
He believes the country's leading oppositionist has three options.
"Number one, Raffi Hovannisian goes to Freedom Square where he
continues claiming he received 80% votes in the election," Sargsyan
said. "Then he declares himself to be President and tries to set up
alternative power agencies. In this case, the /legitimate/ forces of
law and order will act in compliance with the duties vested in them."
"Option number two for Raffi Hovannisian is to continue claiming that
the election was not fair and that his percentage of votes exceeded
the official results of election," he said. "Then he consolidates the
structures reporting to him, takes part in the election of municipal
council in the capital Yerevan, becomes its mayor, and governs a
third of the country's population."
"Option number three is stop being an oppositionist, to get engaged
in the activity of the agencies of power, and to start the struggle
with corruption and emigration - something that he promised during
the election campaign," Sargsyan said.
As regards the third option, Hovannisian asked if the case in hand
was the setting up of a coalition with the ruling Republican Party,
led by the President.
"But any further discussions will be held only after Hovannisian
expresses a principled position," Sargsyan said.
The interlocutors agreed that each of them will send his proposals
to the opponent.
According to Sargsyan, he fulfilled the promise to send Hovannisian
his proposals for a referendum on changing Armenia's Constitution.
Hovannisian, on his part, did not send any proposals to the President
and spoke out against the contents of the Presidential address to
the nation.
Earlier, Sargsyan issued an invitation to Hovannisian, who emerged at
the second position from the election, to chair a council in charge
of drafting amendments to the Constitution.
From: A. Papazian