YEREVAN. – Whatever I do, I do it as a servant of the public interest. Whatever I do, I do it openly, and my conscience, my public character will not permit any dealings, noted Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote and who declared a hunger strike on March 10 at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square—during Wednesday’s press conference at the square.    

Hovannisian also repeated his demand from the authorities: Either snap presidential elections will be conducted in the country, or the present-day authorities will decide to share power with the people.

“There are no dealings here,” he added.

The ex-presidential candidate stressed yet again that this is not a “haggling” for governmental posts, and assured that they have candidates who can be appointed to these positions.

As for the query as to what will happen on April 9—when President Serzh Sargsyan is scheduled to formally swear in for a second term in office and when Hovannisian himself plans to swear in, at Liberty Square, as Armenia’s new president—Hovannisian responded: “The inauguration of New Armenia.”  

As per Heritage’s leader, after April 9, he and the overwhelming part of the people will no longer be an opposition.  

To the question as to whether his recent statement that, “If on April 9, Serzh Sargsyan takes a fake oath [of office] on the Bible, and if the Catholicos [of All Armenians] desecrates the Bible, they will do so over my dead body!” is still in force, Raffi Hovannisian responded as follows:

“I am a man of my word, [but] you need to comprehend my word.” 

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am