July 11, 2008

HERITAGE HOLDS FIFTH PARTY CONVENTION:
ANAHIT BAKHSHIAN ELECTED EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIRWOMAN

Yerevan—Today the Heritage Party convened its fifth congress at the Conference Hall of the Armenian Government. The event brought together 274 party delegates, numerous supporters, invited guests, renowned men and women of the arts and letters, leading members of the academic world, and media representatives.

The convention was called to discuss Heritage’s activities since last the party had convened in 2006. The congress also thoroughly analyzed Armenia’s domestic developments and the international events of the past two years and looked at the avenues for surmounting the current challenges and crises the country faces. The conference also expressed deep concern with respect to the processes which are leading to Armenia’s isolation in foreign politics and with regard to the domestic unrest which is weakening the republic. The assembly also outlined the benchmarks and strategic priorities for Heritage’s future political activities.

Member of Heritage’s executive board and parliamentary group Vardan Khachatrian welcomed the capacity audience with opening remarks. Salutations also were delivered by renowned actor Yervand Manarian; prime minister Tigran Sargsyan; Zhirair Sefilian, a devotee of Artsakh’s struggle for liberty and self-determination; chairman Stepan Demirtchian of the People’s Party; Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan; and several others.

Raffi K. Hovannisian, leader of the Heritage Party and its faction in the National Assembly, then was invited to take the floor. In a powerful keynote address, Hovannisian took a historical look at the origins of the Armenian national legacy and also underscored the need to make the long-lasting civilization and rich culture of the Fatherland serve the nation’s prosperity and to learn lessons from the painful mistakes of the past. “But the important thing today—and right here—is our future; it is the Armenia which we will hand down to the coming generations. This Armenia imperatively must be founded on the aspiration for truth, which in itself requires political valor, mastery of rights, and moral determination,” Hovannisian stated. In his view, the unity of the nation, which is the vitally important demand of today, must be achieved by way of exposing the real truth behind the March 1 tragedy.

The next speaker, Heritage board member and MP Anahit Bakhshian, presented an accounting of the board’s activities. The congress approved the report and, through secret ballot, subsequently elected the new board members. Heritage’s newly elected executive board comprises Movses Aristakesian, Davit Badalian, Anahit Bakhshian, Haik Gasparian, Zoya Tadevosian, Vardan Khachatrian, Rafik Hakobian, Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armen Martirosian, Garnik Sahakian, and Arthur Sardarian.

Hovsep Khurshudian, chairman of Heritage’s Constitutional Commission, also presented its report which likewise was approved by the congress.  The latter then endorsed the motions to make amendments to the party’s Charter and also approved the new members of the Commission.

In his turn, secretary Stepan Safarian of Heritage’s parliamentary fraction presented a public accounting of its activity.

Next, the convention examined and approved the amendments proposed in the party’s Program and also endorsed the report by the Audit Commission.

In conclusion, the congress unanimously adopted the “Resolution of the Heritage Party’s Fifth Congress.” The Resolution specifically affirms: “So long as Armenia’s democratic establishments are not awakened from their state of dormancy and ineptitude, the rules of the game remain unfair, the criminals remain unpunished, and officialdom remains incapable of conducting a legal and political assessment of its own administrative agencies and state servants. That this fundamental flaw stands uncorrected means that our society is still in danger of another March 1 calamity.”