RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: "I WANT THAT RIVALS SHAKE EACH OTHER’S HAND ON MAY 12"

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The start of the pre-electoral campaign
of the "Zharangutiun" (Heritage) party took place on April 10 at the
Yerevan Armenia-Marriott hotel. All the 51 candidates involved in
the proportional list of the party were present at the event. The
party leader and all other participants of the meeting performed
the anthem of Armenia. To also recap, speeches were interrupted by
performances of the Armenia Navy Band ensemble, by the way, Raffi
Hovannisian accompanied Arto Tuncboyacian.

R. Hovannisian mentioned that in the case of existence of equal
conditions, "Zharangutiun" will get absolute majority of votes, and
in the case of unequal conditions, it will get relative majority of
the votes. "We thing that the reality will be fixed on May 12 that
"Zharangutiun" is the leader in the elections," the party leader
assured.

In R. Hovannisian’s opinion, the Armenian mentality is based
on fairness and morality. "We must show that the Armenian
newly-independent statehood is able to hold free, fair and transparent
elections," he mentioned. In the "Zharangutiun" leader’s words, if
elections are again hold in Armenia with falsifications, not only
the people and the opposition but the ruling structures and the state
itself will lose.

R. Hovannisian mentioned that in spite of unequal conditions,
"Zharangutiun" will participate in the propaganda mission, going
"from village to village, from city to city, from house to house"
and presenting its alternative program. In his words, the party will
carry out its propaganda mission "with the constructive principle
and positive fillings."

"I much want that rivals shake each other’s hand on May 12. We are
ready to do it if we see that another party really gained the people’s
vote," R. Hovannisian stated.