YEREVAN. – The key objective of the proposals to Armenia’s authorities by opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who was 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—is to carry out the handing over and the assuming of power as softly as possible. Karabakh war veteran, Armenia’s opposition Sardarapat movement coordinator Jirair Sefilian noted this during a press conference on Friday.    

But as per Sefilian, Hovannisian’s talks with Sargsyan are meaningless, “because they do not speak with dictators in that manner; they force them that they must leave.”   

Sefilian also considers this discourse to be detrimental for the people’s movement.

“The concept of power is extremely negative among a significant part of the people. I see no meaning in cherishing hopes with this discourse. I do not accept this tactic of Raffi, but it must be respected because his intention is very good,” the Karabakh war veteran said.     

But he stressed that the current situation cannot continue for too long and that an end should be put to this on April 9—that is, the day when President Sargsyan is scheduled to formally swear in for a second term in office, and also when Hovannisian likewise plans to swear in, at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square, as Armenia’s new president.  

The Sardarapat movement coordinator is confident that Armenia’s working system is in the process of self-collapse.   

“Our task is to think about how we will set up a parallel system to this collapsing system. If we cannot set up a parallel system, we will remain under the debris,” Jirair Sefilian concluded.  

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am