April 17, 2007

Heritage Campaign Holds First Press Briefing, Receives Election Monitors

Yerevan—On Tuesday, April 17, television, radio, and print journalists gathered at Heritage Party Headquarters, where spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian and media relations director Lilit Sarukhanian conducted the party’s first bi-weekly press briefing. Khurshudian discussed slanted media coverage, affirmed Heritage’s commitment to a clean campaign, and reasserted the party’s three prerequisites for just elections: 1) equal access to public facilities; 2) equal access to media; and 3) a true respect for financial spending limits by all parties involved.

Later in the day, Raffi K. Hovannisian received officials of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission led by Ambassador Boris Frlec. Campaign manager Vardan Khachatrian and spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian also received a delegation of the CIS Election Monitoring Organization. To both groups, Heritage’s representatives upheld the imperative of free and fair elections, saying that process and outcome are interrelated and equally important. Without transparent elections that give voice to the national will, Hovannisian asserted, the state can be neither just nor strong.

Heritage’s volunteer corps took the same message to the streets today, covering parts of Yerevan’s Central district, Norki Masiv, and Arabkir.

Tomorrow, Heritage candidates and party faithful will join the volunteers, as the campaign bus “Toward Victory” embarks on a two-day journey to the Siunik marz and surrounding cities and villages.