At its congress today, the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) elected RPA Chairman and Executive Body. The NEWS.am correspondent reported that RA President Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected RPA Chairman by 1,669 of 1,738 voters, with 69 ballot papers invalidated. The RPA Congress also elected a 14-member Executive Body. Not without “cons”, all the nominees, including RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan were elected Executive Body members.

Also, from now on, the RPA Council will not be elected but formed of RPA representative in the Armenian Government and Parliament, as well as a number of other officials.

President Serzh Sargsyan made a speech after the results were announced. He congratulated the RPA Executive Body and thanked those who voted for the nominees. The President listed the following three tasks: Armenia’s economic development, resolution of the Armenian-Turkish problem and settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Why does not the President respond to the criticism and libel that actually appears in Armenian, Azerbaijani and Turkish press? For the simple reason that those sitting there are at least aware of their own aim and that of the others: making the President feel permanent tension and justify himself. I have no reason for justifying myself. Let the ones seeking to yield Karabakh and the ones that fell short of the people’s expectations justify themselves. We have all the necessary potential to navigate our ship to the port of destination and are not going to change our route,” stated President Serzh Sargsyan.