Tuesday, 4 March 2008
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA, THE PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTYAND COUNTRY OF LAW PARTY
Dear compatriots,
The undesirable succession of events following the presidential poll has caused serious political tensions in the country. As a result of mass disorders organized by Levon Ter-Petrosyan's irresponsible and imprudent activity and a group of his adventure-seeking adherents led to the RA President-decreed and National Assembly-approved state of emergency in Yerevan.
These events were a heavy blow to our statehood and people. Irreparable losses in the ranks of police on duty and demonstrators, over hundred wounded, the acts vandalism, cruelty and robbery shocked our people heavily. We condole with the families and close relatives of our compatriots who fell victim to blind hatred, we feel sympathy for them and are determined to make everything to prevent events like these from recurrence in our country. The condemnation of such phenomena can be sincere and their recurrence can be prevented only in case they are given impartial and accurate political, legal and moral assessment. Hence, we are obliged, constraining the feeling of pain, anger and grief, to estimate what has happened.
Unfortunately, we have failed to prevent what had been consistently, methodically and severely prepared by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and a group of his adherents who used to sow lie, blackmail, irreconcilability, intolerance, rage and lawlessness among our people. That they inflicted labels of traitors on political contenders, insulted them by means of foul language, called dregs of society those citizens who failed to respond to their appeals, held illegal meetings and processions, built up stocks of illegal weapons, ammunition, psychotropic substances, cudgels and metal rods in Freedom square points to well planned and organized activity. Lie-mongering and hatred have nothing to do with political processes. It can only lead to what took place on March 1-2.
The poll became for Levona Ter-Petrosyan and the group of his adherents an occasion manifestation with exclusive cynicism of blind hatred, revenge and rage accumulated during 10 years toward their own people and State. The responsibility for the vandalism and tragedy will be borne by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the group of his adherents which not only rejected the constantly sounding appeals to give up political blackmail, propaganda of hatred and rage, the proposals to solve political problems through political and legal methods and by means of dialogue, but also at the difficult moment could not overcome it and egocentric promptings, by refusing a meeting even with the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Dear compatriots,
The grief and pain, bitterness of loss and the sincere wound caused by these events are great. Nevertheless, in order to restore peace in the minds of our people, stability and normal life of the country, we are obliged to find in ourselves the will and force necessary for seeking correct decisions in defiance of current challenges. We shall be resolute and consecutive in the matter of exposing the organizers and participants of mass disorders, their punishment with all the severity of law. We are full of determination to detect and confiscate illegally held weapons and ammunition in the country, to ensure the supremacy of rule-of-law by guaranteeing the irreversibility of development of democracy.
We are confident and resolute that the newly formed political coalition will be able to provide new quality in forthcoming reforms for the sake of the nation, promote the decision of various problems facing to the country and people, fostering thereby social consent and advanced development of the country.
Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
Chairman of the Prosperous Party of Armenia Gagik Tzarukyan
Chairman of the Country of Law Party Arthur Baghdasaryan
