Armenian president meeting with Raffi Hovannisian starts in informal atmosphere
21.02.2013,
17:30
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s meeting with Raffi Hovannisian, his key rival in the presidential election, started in informal atmosphere, according to a few-minute video provided by the president’s press office.
YEREVAN, February 21. /ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s meeting with Raffi Hovannisian, his key rival in the presidential election, started in informal atmosphere, according to a few-minute video provided by the president’s press office.
Hovannisian, the leader of Heritage party, who disputes the results of the election, decided Thursday to meet with Sargsyan.
On Wednesday, Hovannisian said that he will wait for the president on the Liberty Square hoping the latter to hand the office over to him, but today he, accompanied by hundreds of his loyalists, headed for the presidential residence
They shook each other’s hands, exchanged greetings and sat down to table for talking.
The president asked Hovannisisan whether there will be journalists. The latter said “no”. They are talking behind closed doors.
Earlier, Hovannisian, speaking at a news conference, said that he will agree to both public and closed-door meetings with Sargsyan.
Armen Arzumanyan, the president’s advisor, said Sargsyan is ready to receive Hovannisian at any time.
Hovannisian’s loyalists will stage a rally authorized by the Yerevan municipality on the Liberty Square on Friday at 17:00.
According to the preliminary results of the poll released by the Central Election Commission, Serzh Sargsyan, the incumbent president, was reelected by 861,378 voters (58.64%) and Raffi Hovannisian won 539,674 votes (36.74%). -0-
