The presidential candidate’s campaign in Ashtarak
Raffi Hovhannisyan, a candidate for president, was received in Ashtarak with chants like “Let us see what we can do,” “We are with you,” “I have the same last name as you, Hovhannisyan; we will vote for you.”
“This square was empty 9 months ago,” Mr. Hovhannisyan remarked during a meeting with residents of Ashtarak. “If you voted for the Prosperous Armenia Party 9 months ago, because you wanted economic development, if you voted for the ARF, because you wanted national ideals and goals, if you voted for the ANC, because you wanted a democratic country or something else; it doesn’t matter. All this is our struggle. There are very good people even among Republicans who know that the die is cast, Armenia’s sovereignty, statehood, the citizens’ rights, and the national interest are at stake. We all know that we have put down the flag of the Heritage Party. This is not a partisan struggle. Our fatherland is ours; it is not the property of either Serzh or Robert or Levon or the governor or the village headman. Everyone has his vote in the country. This is a candidacy of the whole political stage. This is not a struggle between Raffi and Serzh. Nor is it a struggle between the Heritage Party and the Republican Party. Every Armenian should participate in this struggle, because he should have a job, instead of begging, he should come back, instead of emigrating, he should have activity, instead of charity.” The candidate for president made a few promises to residents of Ashtarak. “We should do all that is necessary to increase investment by 600 percent, not to decrease it by 300 percent. 600 thousand Armenians will overcome poverty, if you want it. Do we want it or do we not want it? Experienced soldiers who are provided for and get compensation should stand on our borders, not our 18-year-old children who become targets of artillery, not being aware of the dangers. Experienced soldiers who are aware of the dangers and get compensation should go to the border, in order that no coffins are brought to families anymore. I will not allow our children to fall victim to the Turkish snipers on our borders or under peaceful conditions so that our mothers don’t mourn.”
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Raffi Hovhannisyan assured that it was possible and probable to win. And the candidate warned that those who abuse their powers, doctors, police officers, teachers, village headmen… would be held accountable. The leader of the Heritage Party had casual meetings, besides the gathering, he visited shops, entered the campaign offices of Hrant Bagratyan and Serzh Sargsyan. Residents of Ashtarak complained about the government and assured: “Raffi Hovhannisyan will rescue us. We see the real Armenian in him. Why do I respect Raffi Hovhannisyan? Because he was the first Armenian to say in Turkey in 1992 that they had committed genocide, and he was the first Armenian who went to Baku alone and told them about their crimes to their faces. Such a person cannot but be respected by the people, now can he?”
A woman from Ashtarak, Sirvard Kocharyan, assured: “We will vote for Raffi Hovhannisyan, in order that the people have jobs, are not forced into poverty. He keeps his word; if he didn’t, we wouldn’t believe him. He is a worthy man. Dear Comrade Raffi Hovhannisyan, I will vote for you.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
