OPPOSITION REBORN: LTP ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY TO “OBEY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”
- Armenia’s first president wants to be its third. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was elected to office in 1991, re-elected in 1996, and resigned in 1998, announced his intentions before what appeared to be the largest opposition rally crowd since the 2003 presidential campaign.
Standing where his rise to popularity began in 1988 as a leader of the Karabakh Committee, with his declaration of candidacy Ter-Petrosyan delivered a long speech that ended long months of speculation over whether he would return to politics.
The 62-year old scholar said he is a candidate for next February’s election, because he “cannot allow” the current regime to continue what he called the moral deterioration of the country.
Yerevan’s Freedom Square overflowed with rally participants who had been drawn by two weeks of publicity, even though state-dominated television refused to run announcements about the historic re-emergence of Armenia’s first president to public life.
Ter-Petrosyan has been reclusive since his resignation, appearing only recently at meetings that were seen to signal today’s announcement.
Concurrent to the 5 pm rally, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia sponsored a pop concert at the Vazgen Sargsyan football stadium that drew a nearly full house.
In a speech that lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes Ter-Petrosyan – whose speaking demeanor reflects his academic background – blasted the reign of his former Prime Minister, President Robert Kocharyan, and the current Prime Minister and presumed next president, Serzh Sargsyan.
Speaking on the eve of the anniversary of independent Armenia’s darkest day – the October 27, 1999 murders in parliament of eight government leaders – Ter-Petrosyan pointedly accused the current administration of colluding with terrorists to kill off Speaker of Parliament Karen Demirchyan and the Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan.
Ter-Petrosyan said a major task of the next president should be to reveal the “real powers” behind those slayings adding: “If Serzh Sargsyan becomes president, that is not going to happen.”
Shortly before 8 pm, with the crowd gradually swelling throughout in spite of intermittent bad weather (which Ter-Petrosyan called “Robert’s rain”), Ter-Petrosyan told the crowd: “Just wait a minute and then you’ll have reason to clap.”
Following a pause he then said: “Believe it or not, I’m not interested in this question (whether he would run for president). Armenia’s main problem is not the person of the future president but the reproduction of the current regime. If they were good, I would do anything to support them, but if not I have nothing to do but obey the will of the people.
“From now on, I declare myself a candidate for President of Armenia.”
The announcement brought a huge cheer from the crowd and chants of “Levon, Levon”. It was the news that supporters such as 50-year old Aghavni Hovhannisyan had waited for.
“I have participated in the (Karabakh) Movement from the very first day and think this is a continuation of the movement,” she said. “Besides being a person of authority, Levon Ter-Petrosyan is also a great intellectual, something that our present-day authorities lack.”
Generally, today’s crowd had a different makeup than opposition rallies of recent years, with a lower percentage of elderly and noticeably more middle-aged and young people. The mood was different too: whereas past political rallies in Yerevan have often been called in anger, this meeting had a noticeably cheerful and optimistic atmosphere.
“Finally, the real aspiration for freedom and independence of our people is awakening,” said Azat Gevorgyan, 42, from Armavir. “We will win. I believe in this victory.”
The essential message they and others heard from Ter-Petrosyan was that:
• Armenia is in moral decline (Ter-Petrosyan described the current administration as a “kleptocracy”)
• The current economic progress is “fiction” and a fraction of what it could be if authorities were not stealing from the people.
• The present regime does not care to have the Karabakh issue settled, but prefers to preserve the status quo.
• The current administration uses “intimidation” to “make its subjects serve the regime”.
Reacting to Ter-Petrosyan’s announcement, Kocharyan told reporters:
“It is naïve to think that people have forgotten the years the All Armenian Movement was in power. Nobody has good memories of those years, of 1995. They destroyed the economy. Now that they see that the economy has recovered, they see new opportunities to rob more. I see that as the only explanation.
“There is a chance for change, and it is not right for the nation to lose that chance” Ter-Petrosyan said, one of several statements that were met with chants of “struggle to the end!” – a chant likely to be the new sound of a previously feeble-voiced opposition.
Information was also provided by ArmeniaNow staff reporters Suren Musayelyan, Marianna Grigoryan and Gayane Mkrtchyan.
DECISION 2008: LOOKING BACK ON LEVON
The political comeback of the first president of Armenia coincided with quite a remarkable event that the Turkish and Azeri media did not fail to remember, characterizing Levon Ter-Petrosyan as “the only ...CHANGING PRESIDENT OR POWER?: FEBRUARY VOTE VIEWED BY MANY AS POTENTIALLY ‘REVOLUTIONARY’ DESPITE WHAT CONSTITUTION HOLDS
While a majority of ordinary Armenians as well as politicians and analysts appear to be convinced that next year’s presidential election will be all about changing or retaining power, a perusal of the ...HEALTH GATEKEEPERS: FAMILY MEDICINE GAINS POPULARITY IN ARMENIA
This week Lilit Mesropyan visited policlinic N17 to get a prescription for her 1 year old ailing grandchild. Physician Paytsar Urganjyan while writing the prescription asked about the rest of Mesropyan’s ...WATCHING THE MARKET: RISES IN COMMODITY PRICES SPARK DISCUSSIONS
The transition from politics to economy in society happens when red lights warning about price increases start to blink in the economic field. Consumers begin to leave stores with heavy bags, analysts ...COMMENTARY: TURKEY’S HR106 BACKLASH WEAKENS ITS OWN INTERNATIONAL CAUSES
In unprecedented outcry over the adoption of Resolution 106 by the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Ankara threatens American military efforts in Iraq. A new parliamentary motion allows ...PROSPECTIVE: RECOGNITION, FOR A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT
Please read English version on Monday.KEEPING KHOSROV: NATURE PRESERVE MAINTAINS SMALL PART OF ARMENIA NATURE
The twisting road to Khosrov leads to a fourth century place where, now, modern laws ban its original purpose. Khosrov Forest was established by King Khosrov Kotak, who reigned from 330-338. It was turned ...SPORT: DARCHINYAN (IN BOXING) RETURNS WITH A ‘BANG’, NALBANDIAN (IN TENNIS) STUNS WORLD’S NO. 1
Boxing Former IBF and IBO flyweight champion, Vic Darchinyan, 29-1, 23 KO’s, has returned to the ring to have his first bout following the dramatic loss of his titles to Filipino Nonito Donaire in July. ...OPPOSITION REBORN: LTP ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY TO “OBEY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”
1Armenia’s first president wants to be its third. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was elected to office in 1991, re-elected in 1996, and resigned in 1998, announced his intentions before what appeared to be the ...
COMMENT: NEITHER LTP NOR ANY OTHER “ONE PERSON” AS NECESSARY AS CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
KILLED FOR LAUGHING: SOLDIER’S DEATH REVEALS CONTINUING DANGERS FOR ARMENIAN CONSCRIPTS
DIGGING UP CONTROVERSY: ENVIRONMENTALISTS UNHAPPY WITH EXPECTED MINING PERMISSION
MISSION ARMENIA PRESENTS: SOCIAL HOUSE FOR ELDERLY TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN
OPPOSITION REBORN: LTP ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY TO “OBEY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”
HR 106 FALLOUT: TURKEY RECALLS US AMBASSADOR
CAR CULTURE ICON: FIRST DRIVE-IN COMES TO ARMENIA
DECISION 2008: LOOKING BACK ON LEVON
SPORT: DARCHINYAN (IN BOXING) RETURNS WITH A ‘BANG’, NALBANDIAN (IN TENNIS) STUNS WORLD’S NO. 1
POINTS FOR EFFORT: FOOTBALL OFFICIALS PRAISE ARMENIA’S SOCCER DEVELOPMENT
- 1884 Death of Patriarch Nerses Varjapetyan in Constantinople. He was born in 1837.
- 1963 Celebration of the 250th anniversary of Sayat-Nova's (troubadour) birth.
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.