Interfax, Russia
Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
February 22, 2008

SARGSYAN THANKS VOTERS FOR TRUST

Armenia’s President-Elect Serzh Sargsyan, who won the February 19
election, has thanked voters for their support."I thank all those who
voted for me. But as I said before the election, I intend to serve as
the president of all Armenian citizens," Sargsyan said.

Some in the opposition are trying to express their discontent over
the election results by provoking violence, Sargsyan said.

"In our country, everyone has the right to freedom of speech and
freedom to express their view, but there is no room for disorder and
instability in a democratic country," the former prime minister said.

He insisted that police "will not interfere unless it is necessary to
restore order."

Meanwhile, the Armenian opposition announced the beginning of a
protest action on Thursday.

We give the authorities until tomorrow to fulfill our demands, Nikol
Pashinian, a member of former Armenian President Levon Ter-
Petrosian’s electoral headquarters, said at a rally in Yerevan. I
will take part in it [the protest action] myself, he said.

The opposition will organize a tent camp on Liberty square in
Yerevan, he said, adding that 10,000 people will join the protest
action on the square. Pashinian also demanded that police guarantee
security on the square.

It was reported earlier that Ter-Petrosian’s supporters are holding a
protest action in Yerevan demanding that the results of the
presidential election be declared invalid.

Nine candidates ran for the presidency on February 19. Sargsyan won
the election with 52.86% of the vote. Ter-Petrosian came second
securing 21.5% of the vote.