Raffi Hovhanesian running for presidency as alternative to current government

YEREVAN, January 25. / ARKA /. Armen Martirosian from Zharangutyun (Heritage) party of former foreign minister Raffi Hovhanesian said today Mr. Hovhanesian is running for presidency as an alternative to the current government.

Speaking at a public discussion of the upcoming polls Martirosian said Raffi Hovhanesian’s election program reflects the current situation in the country and gives also analytical assessments, backed by figures and steps towards the resolution of the problems; in particular a lot of attention is paid to the economic sphere, the judiciary and human rights.

According to him, the current government had enough time to deliver on its promises and eliminate negative elements of the system, such as corruption, affiliation of businesses and government and others.

Martirosian stressed that the core of Hovhanesian’s program is to provide a decent life for the citizens of Armenia, secure economic development, population growth, reduction of migration, while the current president and his team are not able to secure sweeping changes in the country.

"Raffi Hovhanesian’s presidency will be the years of national unity, because only through joined efforts it is possible to combat the current challenges,’ he said.

The February 18 election will be contested by eight candidates - the incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister Hrant Bagratian, ex-foreign minister Raffi Hovhanesian, a Soviet time dissident Paruyr Hayrikyan, former foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, a political analyst Andrias Ghukasyan, a businessman Vartan Sedrakian and Aram Harutyunyan, leader of a small National Unity party. -0-