Re-elected Sargsyan congratulates his team and thanks his rivals

YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. The current president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan who was re-elected, according to the preliminary information from the central electoral commission, for a second term yesterday, congratulated his team and thanked his main rivals in the presidential race.

“This was an election of a path, and citizens sel ected the path toward secure Armenia. I am happy and proud to be next to every Armenian on that path. I am grateful to our team and I am proud of them, there is no unsolvable problem for such a team”, Sargsyan said at the central office of the republican party of Armenia after the central electoral commission declared the preliminary results of the election.

Sargsyan expressed gratitude to everyone who realized the importance of the moment for holding good elections.

“I am grateful to my rivals in the elections – Raffi Hovannisian, Hrant Bagratyan and Paruyr Hayrikyan who managed to bring changes into Armenia’s political life and, believe me, it was an honor for me to compete with them”, Sargsyan said.

The current president thanked also reporters who did their best to cover election campaigns of all candidates, to lawyers and the law-enforcement agencies who enabled all candidates exercising their right to freedom of self-expression. 

“I think, together we have managed to convince the others and ourselves of our capacity to make serious changes in the country ourselves, and this inspires hopes that the changes will produce results in the near future”, Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan pointed out that the elections is not the end, but the beginning… of hard work, and he is ready to continue it together with his team.

Sargsyan also expressed hope that his opponents’ supporters will respect the majority’s decision and will join his team in developing Armenia in an atmosphere of stability.

According to the ballot count results fr om all 1,988 polling stations, Sargsyan gained 58.64% of the votes (861,160 votes). His main rival former foreign minister of Armenia Raffi Hovannisian received 36.75% of the votes (539,672 votes).

The third is ex-premier Hrant Bagratyan who is far behind with 2.15% of the votes (31,643)

Leader of National Self-Determination Union party Paruyr Hayrikyan won 1.23% of the votes (18,093).

The sixth presidential election since independence was held in Armenia Monday. According to the preliminary information, vote turnout was 60.05% or 1,518,407 eligible voters.  –0--