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December 26, 2007 Heritage Parliamentary Fraction Presents Its Public Accounting
Yerevan―On December 25, Heritage Party’s parliamentary group presented a public report on its activities throughout 2007: >> December 18, 2007 Heritage Follows Through on Its Promise Yerevan—During a special session held on December 6, the Heritage Party Council decided not to nominate a candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for February 19, 2008. Having failed to reach consensus on endorsing another candidate, the delegates of the Council decided to empower the party board to make the final decision about the party’s participation in the elections. To that end, the Council instructed the board “to obtain from all nominees their vision for Armenia and their proposed policies, programs, and governance mechanisms, as well as their individual and collective qualifications, and then to inform the Armenian public of its findings and conclusions.” >> December 6, 2007 DECISION OF THE HERITAGE PARTY COUNCIL
December 6, 2007 Heritage Holds Special Session:
Yerevan—The Heritage Party’s Council today held a special sitting devoted to the Armenian presidential elections scheduled for February 19, 2008.>> November 8, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Receives Levon Ter-Petrosyan
Yerevan—Today Heritage Party leader and Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian met with its first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. They exchanged analyses on the Republic’s domestic concerns, diplomatic challenges, and political developments in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential elections. October 19, 2007 Heritage MPs Welcome German Delegation Yerevan—Yesterday, October 18, members of Heritage’s parliamentary fraction met at the National Assembly with the German Bundestag’s Germany-South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group led by Steffen Reiche.>> October 12, 2007 Heritage Condemns the Abuse Against Another Journalist Yerevan—The Heritage Party and parliamentary fraction deplore the act of violence committed on October 11 against journalist Ruzan Minasian of the Aravot daily.>> October 10, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian at NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Reykjavik, Iceland—Raffi K. Hovannisian, leader of the Heritage Party and Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 53rd annual session of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly here between October 5 and 9.>> October 5, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian at the Council of Europe, Speaks on Armenia, Darfur
Strasbourg—Heritage Party leader and member of parliament, Raffi K. Hovannisian, attended the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as part of the Armenian National Assembly delegation. The conference was held at PACE headquarters in Strasbourg, France on October 1-5.>> September 19, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Receives Italian Delegation Yerevan—Today Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian met with an Italian parliamentary delegation led by Chairman Umberto Ranieri of the Foreign and EU Affairs Commission of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies.>> September 18, 2007 Heritage Introduces New Legislation Yerevan—Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjian today introduced in the Armenian National Assembly a bill to repeal Article 301 of the Penal Code, which in Postanjian’s words severely curtails the liberty of expression.>> September 17, 2007 Heritage Statement on the Brutal Beating of Hovhannes Galajian The Heritage Party and its parliamentary fraction deplore the vile act committed on September 15 against Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief of Iskakan Iravunk weekly. Galajian was attacked by two assailants and beaten with metal bars near his place of work.>> August 29, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Congratulates Abdullah Gul Yerevan—Today Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian sent a letter of congratulations to
newly-elected Turkish president Abdullah Gul.>> August 28, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Introduces Bill on Karabagh Recognition Yerevan—The Heritage Party’s parliamentary leader Raffi K. Hovannisian today introduced in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia a law officially to recognize the Republic of Mountainous Karabagh (Artsakh).>> August 27, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Issues Statement on Elections Yerevan—Today Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian released a statement congratulating Khatchik Manukian, who was declared by the 15th district’s election commission to be the winner of the August 26 race for the vacant parliamentary seat there.>> August 14, 2007 Hovannisian and Heritage Take Message to Town and Village Talin— Raffi Hovannisian and the Heritage Party’s volunteer corps, composed mainly of young activists from the capital and the 15th electoral district, today completed their first round of parliamentary campaign visits to all 84 precincts of the constituency.>> August 3, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian and Ambassador Smessow at the French Embassy
Yerevan—Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian met today with French Ambassador Serge Smessow.>> August 1, 2007 Hovannisian and Heritage Kick Off Congressional Campaign Talin, Armenia—The Heritage Party today launched Raffi Hovannisian’s campaign to represent the 15th electoral district in Armenia’s National Assembly. The 15th Electoral District
The constituency, which includes 84 precincts in the marzes of Aragatsotn and Armavir and stretches from the slopes of Mt. Aragats to the banks of the Arax River, will hold the election to fill its vacancy in Parliament on August 26. >> July 30, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Meets with Matthew Bryza
Yerevan—Heritage Party leader and MP Raffi K. Hovannisian met today with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Bryza, who is visiting Armenia as the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.>> July 27, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Welcomes Ambassador Rudolf Perina
Yerevan—Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian received the new chief of the US mission to Armenia, Ambassador Rudolf Perina, at the National Assembly today.>> July 23, 2007 Heritage: The “Armenian Watergate” Case Finally Under Scrutiny Yerevan—Today, July 23, the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office formally informed Heritage Party Chairman and newly-elected Member of Parliament Raffi K. Hovannisian that it has filed criminal charges, as law and evidence require, and ordered a full investigation into the case of the “Armenian Watergate”—the theft last year of constitutionally-protected information from the computer database at Heritage headquarters.>> July 4, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Meets with Rene Van Der Linden
Yerevan—Today Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian and leaders of the other parliamentary fractions held a meeting at the National Assembly with René van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who is currently visiting Armenia.>> July 2, 2007 Heritage Meets With European Ambassadors
Yerevan—Today Raffi K. Hovannisian, Larisa Alaverdian, and Stepan Safarian represented the Heritage Party’s parliamentary group in a meeting with a visiting delegation of Council of Europe ambassadors.>> June 29, 2007 Heritage and Orinats Yerkir Parliamentary Groups Hold Talks
Yerevan—The Heritage and Orinats Yerkir parliamentary factions held a joint consultation at the National Assembly today.>> June 25, 2007 Heritage Demands Delegate to Council of Europe
Yerevan—Today Heritage Party parliamentary leader Raffi K. Hovannisian sent a letter to National Assembly Chairman Tigran Torosyan asking and expecting him immediately to dispatch a Heritage representative to Strasbourg for the current session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.>> June 22, 2007 Heritage: The “Armenian Watergate” Case Continues
Yerevan—Yesterday, June 21, the Central and Nork-Marash Court of First Instance, Judge Samvel Tadevosian presiding, heard for a second time—and today ruled in favor of—Heritage Party Chairman and newly-elected Member of Parliament Raffi K. Hovannisian’s complaint against the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office.>> June 20, 2007 Heritage Vouches for Release of Political Prisoners
Yerevan—Today Raffi K. Hovannisian and the six other members of the Heritage Party’s parliamentary delegation signed and officially deposited a certificate of guarantee for the release from custody, pending any trial, of Alexander Arzoumanian, Zhirair Sefilian, and Vardan Malkhasian.>> June 18, 2007 Heritage Nominates Hovannisian for 15th District
Talin, Armenia—On Sunday, June 17, Heritage party representatives Tigran Sargsian and Mamikon Sargsian presented the Heritage Party’s official nomination of Raffi Hovannisian for the parliamentary seat from the 15th electoral district. >> June 15, 2007 Hovannisian Receives Semneby
Yerevan—Today the Heritage Party’s parliamentary leader Raffi Hovannisian and MP Stiopa Safarian received a European Union delegation led by EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Ambassador Peter Semneby and German Ambassador Heike Renate Peitsch.>> Heritage Parliamentary Group Holds First News Conference at “Tesaket” Press Club
Chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian of the Heritage Party’s Parliamentary Delegation together with Heritage MP Anahit Bakhshian. >> June 13, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian to Head Heritage Delegation
Yerevan—Today the Heritage Party’s parliamentary group held its first meeting at its office in the National Assembly. The meeting adopted the by-laws of the Heritage delegation, and then elected Raffi K. Hovannisian as its chairman and Stiopa Safarian as its secretary.>> June 12, 2007 Hovannisian, Heritage Enter Parliament
Yerevan—Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian and his six colleagues from Heritage’s proportional list picked up their parliamentary mandates today from the Central Election Commission.>> June 7, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Responds... June 6, 2007 Heritage to Torosyan Yerevan—This morning Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of the Heritage Party, sent the following text to the Honorable Mr. Tigran Torosyan, chairman of the National Assembly. “The first session of the fourth National Assembly has not to date taken place pursuant to the Constitution. As of this writing, Heritage has not received, in a manner reflective of the rule of law, due notice of that session, its invitation and holding, or any other details connected therewith. >> June 5, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Meets European Officials
Yerevan—Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian met today with Miguel Angel Moratinos, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Spain and Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, together with President Goran Lennmarker of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. They discussed Armenia’s post-election situation, the challenge of liberty and conflict resolution for Artsakh (Mountainous Karabagh), and other regional developments. >> May 28, 2007 Heritage Statement
The Heritage Party congratulates the entire Armenian nation on the 89th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Armenia . Without this day in 1918, achieved as it was against the odds of the Genocide and great dispossession of Homeland which preceded it, there would be no Armenian state, of any kind, remnant today. >> May 15, 2007 The Triumph of Heritage
Yerevan—Today, May 15, Raffi K. Hovannisian, Larisa Alaverdian, and party spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian answered questions from the media at the capital’s Golden Tulip Hotel, where the Forum Club had invited a press conference. The dozens of print, electronic, and television journalists who packed the meeting hall were primarily interested in Heritage’s viewpoint on the parliamentary elections of May 12. “In spite of the markedly unequal conditions before and during the campaign season and the large-scale violations registered on election day, Heritage prevailed,” Hovannisian said, noting that the party’s officially-recorded 6 percent result >> May 14, 2007 Heritage’s Election Surprise
Yerevan—Heritage continues to receive correspondences of congratulation from thousands of Armenian citizens. Both the process of the elections and the final results (which registered 6 percent in our favor), however, are not satisfactory. And though the parliamentary elections of May 12 improved on past elections, they still did not correspond to international standards and—more importantly—the standards of our national dignity. When, in short order, the people of Armenia come to power, such shameful elections will not be condoned. >> Heritage Report
Yerevan—Despite the fact that all political forces, which had announced of their participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled in Armenia for May 12, had stated in December 2006 that they were going to endeavor for the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections, the monitoring of the pre-electoral period showed that there was an unfair election competition between the opposition and the pro-establishment forces in terms of media access, use of public facilities and billboard spaces, and campaign finance requirements. This competition, however, had started much earlier for those political forces that support the authorities. >> May 13, 2007 Heritage Party
The following is a summary of some of the official complaints filed by party observers during the Armenian parliamentary elections of May 12. >> May 12, 2007
“From this day forth, we will reassert the liberty of citizen and the dignity of state.”
May 11, 2007 Heritage Meets With European Monitors, Establishes Election Information Center
Yerevan—Today, May 11, Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian met with representatives of the OSCE and Council of Europe observation missions. They focused on the quality of the campaign season as it relates to democratic benchmarks of fairness and transparency. In spite of the numerous violations registered during this period, Hovannisian still expected that the parliamentary elections will in their essence meet international standards. They agreed that this special opportunity for Armenia ’s democratic recovery should not be missed. >> May 10, 2007 Heritage Closes Campaign on Crescendo
Yerevan—Today, May 10, thousands of Heritage Party supporters joined Raffi K. Hovannisian at the Armenia Marriott Hotel to celebrate the party’s imminent victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Artists, singers, actors, intellectuals, and citizens electrified the Tigran Mets Hall, where the campaign commenced nearly one month ago. “Since that time, we have traveled across Armenia and spread our message from heart to heart, intersection to intersection, border to border,” Hovannisian said. “The victory that many doubted thirty days ago, we feel now. It will be the victory of all Armenian people.” >> May 9, 2007 Heritage Salutes Season of Victory
Yerevan—Today, May 9, Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian visited Victory Park to mark the twin triumphs of Shushi’s liberation 15 years ago and the defeat of fascism during World War II. Having laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Republic’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs shared memories and expectations with the veterans, soldiers, and diplomats who had gathered around the statue of Mother Armenia. Hovannisian said that it is high time to translate the dignity achieved abroad into justice at home, and to return these victories to their source—the Armenian citizen. >> May 8, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Holds Press Briefing
Yerevan—Yesterday, May 7, Heritage’s campaign bus “Toward Victory” took Raffi K. Hovannisian and his fellow candidates to the various towns in the marzes of Aragatsotn and Armavir, where spontaneous public meetings became the venue for citizens’ opinions, questions, and hopes. Heritage representatives also held a town hall meeting in Yerevan’s Shengavit community. At the Garegin Nzhdeh Square, which overflowed with thousands of citizens, Raffi Hovannisian, Vardan Khachatrian, Larisa Alaverdian, Anahit Bakhshian, and other party candidates presented Heritage’s program and vowed to build a country of liberty, law, and dignity. >> May 7, 2007 Heritage Continues Toward Victory, Condemns Persecution of Shahen Petrosian
Yerevan—On Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, the Heritage campaign bus “Toward Victory” took party candidates and volunteers to Yeghvard, Nor Hajn, Arzni, Abovian, Aramus, Garni, and all throughout the marz of Kotayk. The various town hall meetings proved to be the forum not only of Raffi K. Hovannisian and his fellow candidates, but also of the citizens who have called Heritage to action. Today, May 7, at 6pm, Heritage representatives held a public citizens’ meeting in Yerevan’s Shengavit community, where an enthusiastic crowd welcomed and energized the campaign, as it charges toward victory. >> May 4, 2007 Heritage Hosts Town Hall Meetings in Yerevan
Yerevan—Today, May 4, Heritage toured the republic’s capital with a busload of candidates, volunteers, and supporters. The party bus “Toward Victory” made key stops in Erebuni, Nork-Marash, Nor Nork, and Central Yerevan. At the Aram Khachatrian statue by the Opera, hundreds of citizens braved the heavy rain to exchange words with Raffi K. Hovannisian. With redoubled confidence in party and country, Hovannisian announced the beginning of a new era for Armenia. Earlier in the day, Heritage candidates Larisa Alaverdian and Zaruhi Postanjian, along with party spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian >> May 3, 2007 Heritage Caravan Marches Through Lori Yerevan—Today, May 3, Heritage’s campaign caravan, led by Raffi K. Hovannisian, reached the marz of Lori, where the party’s candidates and volunteers were warmly welcomed in Haghpat, Alaverdi, Dsegh, Vanadzor, Stepanavan, and Tashir. Especially crowded were the town hall meetings in Alaverdi and Vanadzor. Also today, Heritage representatives participated in the Open Society Institute’s unveiling of its newest booklet, “Political parties, outlooks, and positions,” which took place at the Congress Hotel.
>> May 2, 2007 Heritage Campaign Reaches Tavush and Gegharkunik
Yerevan—Today, May 2, Heritage Party candidates and volunteers took the campaign bus “Toward Victory” on a journey to Ijevan, Berd, Paravakar, and other towns in the marzes of Gegharkunik and Tavush. During various public gatherings, Raffi K. Hovannisian and other Heritage candidates exchanged ideas and opinions with their fellow citizens, and presented the party’s platform. Meanwhile in Yerevan, Heritage volunteers continued their grassroots effort to distribute party newspapers, brochures, and other campaign material. >> May 1, 2007 Heritage Conducts Press Briefing, Holds Town Hall Meetings
Yerevan—Today, May 1, Heritage Party spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian conducted a press briefing at party headquarters. He discussed Heritage’s recent activities, “Toward Victory’s” travels to the Aragatsotn, Shirak, and Ararat marzes, and the tree-planting ceremony in the town of Masis. Khurshudian then addressed the misinformation disseminated by Golos Armenii, the Russian-language daily, in its April 28 issue, to the effect that Raffi K. Hovannisian spent 4.5 of the past 18 months out of the country. “This misinformation is sourced in a March 31 report of Hayots Askharkh, which we had refuted immediately upon publication. In blatant violation of basic media ethics, however, the daily did not issue a retraction,” Khurshudian said. “We advise pro-establishment papers that are busy with smear campaigns to sever their attention from Raffi Hovannisian, who travels abroad through >> April 30, 2007 Raffi: From Brussels to Ararat
Yerevan—Today, April 30, Raffi K. Hovannisian returned to Armenia and immediately headed for the Ararat region to talk with his fellow citizens in Khor Virap, Surenavan, Ararat, Vedi, Aygavan, Artashat, Verin Artashat, Aygezard, Dalar, Masis, and Nor Kharberd. Hovannisian had spent the past three days at the annual Brussels Forum of world leaders. In a special session devoted to democratic prospects, he had tied the quality of the upcoming elections to Armenia’s development, political maturity, and reputation in the eyes of the international community. >> April 28, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Addresses Transatlantic Forum
Brussels—Raffi K. Hovannisian, who is participating in the Brussels Forum for the second consecutive year, offered comments at the Forum’s opening session, asserting that in direct furtherance of the European-Atlantic community’s pursuit of universal benchmarks of human rights and the rule of law, as well as common foreign and security policies, the Western world must also practice its own values by ensuring equal application in Europe and its neighborhood of its principles, precedents, and standards of accountability to all instances of conflict resolution—from Kosovo to Karabagh—and of genocide past and present. >> April 27, 2007 Lights Go Out for Heritage as Campaign Thunders On
Yerevan—Yesterday, April 26, after Heritage candidates and volunteers exhausted campaign materials in Giumri, the campaign caravan’s final stop of the day, Raffi K. Hovannisian appeared at the city’s Tsayg television station for a previously scheduled live interview. Electricity rarely goes off in Giumri these days, but nearly ten minutes into the interview, it did for Heritage. And not just one line of electricity, but the station’s second reserve line, too. The television administration was not reluctant to find political explanations behind the sudden outage. When the power was restored some twenty minutes later, Hovannisian finished the interview, which was aired in full at a later time. >> April 26, 2007 Heritage Campaign Visits Aragatsotn and Shirak
Yerevan—Today, Heritage Party candidates and volunteers took the campaign bus “Toward Victory” on a journey to Talin, Artik, Maralik, Akhurian, Amasia, Giumri, and other towns in the marzes of Aragatsotn and Shirak. During various town hall meetings, Raffi K. Hovannisian exchanged ideas and opinions with his fellow citizens, and presented his contract with Armenia. >> April 25, 2007 Raffi Hovannisian Holds Press Briefing, Heads for Border Villages
Yerevan—Today, Raffi K. Hovannisian held a press briefing at Heritage Headquarters, where he discussed unequal campaign conditions in general and pressures being applied to Heritage in particular. In spite of this, Hovannisian asserted that Heritage is set to make up a relative majority of the new parliament. “We harbor no illusion that we will meet Armenia’s challenges alone,” he said, noting that Heritage both enjoys and endorses cooperation and unity as political principles. >> April 24, 2007 April 24: Our Heritage
Yerevan—Raffi K. Hovannisian today joined his family, fellow Heritage candidates and supporters, and the entire Armenian people on a commemorative walk to Tsitsernakaberd. During this sobering, snow-laden respite from election campaigning, Heritage remembers its forebears and resolves to continue their sacred work.>> Brief Summary of Violations and Obstacles Since the Heritage Party redefined its engagement in Armenia’s civic life and political arena in the fall of 2005, the incumbent regime has carried out campaigns of repression against party members in general and its founder Raffi K. Hovannisian in particular. In the lead-up to the constitutional referendum held on November 27, 2005, the Heritage Party—which had prepared its own draft of constitutional changes in May and opposed the version that was...>>
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