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HUNGER-STRIKING OPPOSITIONIST REGRETS 'DISTORTION' IN PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN'S STATEMENT
http://www.armenianow.com/vote_2013/44820/hungerstriking_oppositionist_regrets_distortion_in _presidential_spokesman_s_statement
VOTE 2013 | 28.03.13 | 10:46
Former presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian, who has been on a
hunger strike in Yerevan's Liberty Square since March 10 protesting
the outcome of last month's elections, has declined to comment on a
presidential spokesman's statement regarding the ongoing efforts to
set up a political dialogue.
In his comments made available to the media on Wednesday Armen
Arzumanyan, in particular, said that President Serzh Sargsyan could not
meet Hovannisian's request for a meeting in the square since it would
be against protocol under which such meetings are planned in advance
and are to be held at the presidential compound. He stressed, however,
that the current head of state still considered his proposals made to
Hovannisian about ending his hunger strike and engaging in talks valid.
At the same time, the spokesman warned that the "language of ungrounded
ultimatums being made from the square is reducing the relevance of
these proposals by the hour."
Asked about his reaction to this message from the presidential
administration later that day, Hovannisian again stressed that he
did not comment statements made by spokespersons.
At the same time he described Arzumanyan's statement as "another
distortion that we feel sorry about."
"Our proposal remains in force as well," Hovannisian told reporters.
The opposition leader sent a letter to President Sargsyan listing a
number of conditions on which he was ready to recognize his 'de-facto
presidency'. In particular, he demanded early parliamentary elections,
a drastic electoral reform and a number of key positions in the
future government.
In his letter addressed to Hovannisian on Monday Sargsyan agreed, in
principle, to start a dialogue around these demands, which, though, he
said contradicted the ideas of state governance and the Constitution.
But he first urged his challenger to end his hunger strike.
In reply, Hovannisian insisted that his hunger strike was no obstacle
to talks and said he would end his protest at the time of his own
choosing.
http://www.armenianow.com/vote_2013/44820/hungerstriking_oppositionist_regrets_distortion_in _presidential_spokesman_s_statement
VOTE 2013 | 28.03.13 | 10:46
Former presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian, who has been on a
hunger strike in Yerevan's Liberty Square since March 10 protesting
the outcome of last month's elections, has declined to comment on a
presidential spokesman's statement regarding the ongoing efforts to
set up a political dialogue.
In his comments made available to the media on Wednesday Armen
Arzumanyan, in particular, said that President Serzh Sargsyan could not
meet Hovannisian's request for a meeting in the square since it would
be against protocol under which such meetings are planned in advance
and are to be held at the presidential compound. He stressed, however,
that the current head of state still considered his proposals made to
Hovannisian about ending his hunger strike and engaging in talks valid.
At the same time, the spokesman warned that the "language of ungrounded
ultimatums being made from the square is reducing the relevance of
these proposals by the hour."
Asked about his reaction to this message from the presidential
administration later that day, Hovannisian again stressed that he
did not comment statements made by spokespersons.
At the same time he described Arzumanyan's statement as "another
distortion that we feel sorry about."
"Our proposal remains in force as well," Hovannisian told reporters.
The opposition leader sent a letter to President Sargsyan listing a
number of conditions on which he was ready to recognize his 'de-facto
presidency'. In particular, he demanded early parliamentary elections,
a drastic electoral reform and a number of key positions in the
future government.
In his letter addressed to Hovannisian on Monday Sargsyan agreed, in
principle, to start a dialogue around these demands, which, though, he
said contradicted the ideas of state governance and the Constitution.
But he first urged his challenger to end his hunger strike.
In reply, Hovannisian insisted that his hunger strike was no obstacle
to talks and said he would end his protest at the time of his own
choosing.