Amid the ongoing protests in Yerevan, President Armen Sarkissian released a new statement. Earlier the president personally visited the heavily overcrowded Republic Square in Yerevan on Saturday to meet with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan.

“Dear countrymen,

The ongoing developments in our country have reached a dangerous line which can lead to irreversible consequences.

Unfortunately, contrary to an earlier achieved agreement, the negotiations were interrupted, when they might have led to de-escalating the situation.

Nevertheless, the destructive attitude and conduct must be abandoned, which can undermine the country’s stability, and we should continue seeking for opportunities for dialogue.

Thus, I call on all our citizens and our countrymen of the Diaspora to refrain from attempts of escalating the situation and to display restraint. The security of Armenia and Artsakh must not be trialled.

The society shouldn’t be divided on the eve of April 24 [Genocide commemoration day]. On that day, we must be display nationwide, in both Armenia and Diaspora, maximal restraint for the world to see, and commemorate the memory of our holy martyrs united and collectively”, the president said in the statement.