Heritage party leader resumes rallies throughout Armenia (updated)

Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian has opened a public meeting in Yerevan’s Freedom Square.
 
He presented his Independence agenda.

In response to Tert.am’s question as to what the Independence agenda is, Heritage party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan said, “Come and hear what it is.”

The meeting will be followed by a concert ‘Reincarnation: Independence Declaration Day, August 23’.
 

In his speech, Raffi Hovannisian said that the present challenges, people emigrating from Armenia, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who wants to organize a Turkish-language meeting in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the pseudo-elected authorities seeking to rule due to frauds.

“They call the supporters of Armenia’s unification with Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] betrayers,” Hovannisian said.

He stated that everything will change this year.

Hovannisian is proud of Armenian freedom-fighters who are aware of the necessity for struggle, as well as of activists protesting the fare rise.

Soon, when the higher gas price will be felt, Armenia’s rural areas will receive a strong blow.

He called for a join Independence agenda.

With respect to the Syunik region of Armenia, he said that Surik Khachatryan resigned from the post of Syunik governor “after the murder. This is a problem of justice as well.”

He introduced Samvel Hayrapetyan, the Heritage party’s candidate from election district 38, which includes the Syunik region. According to Hovannisian, it is Hayrapetyan that “will return the power to the Syunik people.” 

Heritage party member Susanna Gasparyan spoke of the worsening social conditions in the country.

“Armenia is deceased, Armenia’s people are deceased. The doctor is the Armenian people,” she said. According to her, the poverty level was 18% in Armenia in 1996, 23% in 2004, 35% in 2008 and 44% in 2011-2012.

With respect to emigration from Armenia, she said that even according to the official statistical data 106,000 people have left Armenia.

“It is time to stop emigration,” she said. Armenian leaders’ families do not actually live in Armenia. They are ready to pack up and leave the country at any moment. 

Heritage party member David Sanasaryan congratulated the participants on the 23^rd anniversary of the Independence Declaration and expressed his regret that the Armenian people has not so far achieved “real independence.”

“We are not independent, we are neglected,” some of the participants said.

In response, Sanasaryan criticized army officers that are “engaged in election frauds” and other government institutions.

Before summing up, Raffi Hovannisian read out a public demand.

“Before it is not too late, and we have won ninety percent and victory is in our hands, let us put out differences aside,” Hovannisian said as he addressed freedom-fighters, students, civil initiatives and other political forces, policemen and servicemen.

ccording to him, it is not a hot autumn, but a hard struggle that is ahead – to build up new Armenia.

As a citizen, Raffi Hovannisian, as well as the Heritage party, with its supporters and other political forces, “millions of voters”, will certainly visit all the places where problems exist.

The Heritage party leader intends to participate in freedom-fighters’ rally scheduled for August 29.

On August 30, Hovannisian intends to hold a rally in Vanadzor. Further rallies will be held in Gyumri,  Nagorno-Karabakh (September 1 to 4), Yerevan (Sept. 5 or 6).