NEW PRESIDENT CALLS FOR BETTER ARMENIA, PLEDGES PEACEFUL KARABAKH SOLUTION

Public TV
April 9 2008
Armenia

Armenia’s new president Serzh Sargsyan spoke about the country’s
development as well as economic andpolitical issues after he was
sworn in as the third president at a special session of parliament
on 9 March, ArmenianPublic TV has carried live the ceremony.

The inauguration coincided with the 40th day of the 1 March clashes
between the opposition protesters and thesecurity forces, which
resulted in eight deaths.

Let us destroy a wall misunderstanding

Sargsyan vowed to uphold the constitution completely. He said
he takes an oath in the name of a better future for thecountry,
development, democracy, supremacy of laws and a stronger and more
prosperous Armenia.

After taking his oath, Sargsyan said: "Dear compatriots,
honourable friends, I understand that I have beenassigned a great
responsibility" adding that "I guarantee that I will not avoid this
responsibility. Irealized the extent of this responsibility when I
joined the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA] and said that I would
runfor president if the RPA wins the majority in the [parliamentary]
election."

Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to the people who voted for him in
the election and assured them that "we areable to jointly change life
in our country for the better." Sargsyan said he is "making a call
forchange" and added that "everyone should be ready for changes from
himself or herself".

Sargsyan said that "we should not split, we should not divide our
people. We should not be indifferent to oneanother’s concerns and
pains". Sargsyan added that "If there is a wall of misunderstandings
between us,let us destroy this wall".

Outgoing president to remain in Armenian history

Sargsyan thanked outgoing President Robert Kocharyan, saying "I would
like to express my gratitude to ArmenianPresident Robert Kocharyan –
a man who has a permanent place in the Armenian history. During his
ten-year presidency,the country has had significant achievements.

"Sargsyan attached great importance to Kocharyan’s role inestablishment
and defence of Nagornyy Karabakh.

Pledges a peaceful settlement to Karabakh problem

Sargsyan thanked his opponents for competition in the election,
especially those "who accepted their failurewith honour" and
those who accepted the offer for cooperation. Sargsyan said he
would deliver on all hispre-election promises, adding "we will
carry them out together. We will build an Armenia which will unite
allArmenians." Sargsyan promised to "carry out a proactive and dynamic
foreign policy and to do everything inorder to achieve a fair and
peaceful settlement" to the Karabakh issue. He also promised to
build a strong,democratic country where "everyone is equal before
the law". Sargsyan said he will be the president "who will bring
peace and stability to the country," and added that he would seek
"boundaries of cooperation withall political forces". Among his
promises, Sargsyan said his efforts would be aimed at coordinating
the interestsof different social groups and changing attitudes toward
science and education in Armenia.

Call for unification

Sargsyan said that "this ceremony is taking place about a month after
the painful events [1 March]," adding"the wounds of those events"
caused pain to everyone. He called upon the people to seek a way for
unification.While referring to the post election events, Sargsyan said
that "unlimited freedom can lead to clashes between the interests
of society and interests of other people. In order to prevent the
possibility of such clashes and tocoordinate various interests and
rights with one another, the state has the right to intervene in the
implementation of some basic rights". Sargsyan said that in restricting
basic rights, including the right to peaceful assembly"they should
find a balance between, on the one hand, public order, the protection
of rights and freedoms of other people and the right to peaceful
assembly on the other hand". He said that along with other laws,
they need toamend Armenia’s law on demonstrations soon. "Aiming on
the one hand to ensure implementation ofeveryone’s right to peaceful
assembly according to European standards and to exclude public events
that are notpeaceful or ones with unlawful goals on the other hand".

To recap, Sargsyan said the five-year presidential term is too short to
"attend to everyone’sexpectations".