Raffi Hovannisian demands immediate release of video record of his meeting with Armenia=?UTF-8?B?4oCZ?=s president

Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian held a meeting with journalists an hour after Armenia's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced the final results of the Feb. 18 presidential election. Mr Hovannisian dwelt on the numerous comments on his meeting with Armenia's president Serzh Sargsyan, particularly on the statements concerning the release of the video record of the meeting.He demanded that the video record be immediately made public."Shame on those trying to threaten me, and I demand that this video record be made public now," he said.Mr Hovannisian told the journalists some details of his meeting with Serzh Sargsyan and said that he was offered to run for the presidency in the 2017-2018 election, which he considers unacceptable."It was an amicable meeting. I said that Serzh Sargsyan had not won, but had a great contribution to the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] liberation war. I told him he had drunk champagne too early," Mr Hovannisian said. Neithe r proposed a political office.During the meeting Mr Hovannisian thanked Armenia's president for "opening access" to mass media for him, freedom of the press, which was not the case under Armenia's previous authorities."I said that elections were rigged and that I was ready to propose the ways out of this national crisis," Mr Hovannisian said.As regards world leaders' congratulations, Mr Hovannisian said that each nation has its own interests, which is the reason for congratulations. However, the Armenian nation has its own interests as well. "He failed to realize what popular will is. I mean [the world leaders] – from the Russian president to the French president, who do not ask about the Armenian people's interests or decisions," Mr Hovannisian said.He is for good-neighborly relations with Russia. Europe must respect the Armenian people as well, Mr Hovannisian said."The USA must respect us as well – with respect to Turkey and the Armenian Genoc ide, Artsakh."Being OSCE Minsk Group co-chair without recognizing the Armenian people's rights is tantamount to rejecting your appointment, Mr Hovannisian said.   Read more... (329 words)

Armenian News