April 18, 2007

Heritage Campaign Heads for Vayots Dzor and Siunik, Receives Delegation From the International Republican Institute

Yerevan—On Wednesday, April 18, Heritage Party candidates, party faithful, and volunteers took the campaign bus “Toward Victory” on a two-day journey to the Vayots Dzor and Siunik marzes and surrounding cities and villages. During their first stop at Zangakatun, they placed flowers at the Paruir Sevak memorial and visited the great poet’s home-museum.

The campaign journey continued at Yegheknadzor, where Raffi K. Hovannisian and party representatives received a warm reception by local residents. Successful public meetings were held also in Malishka, Vayk, Jermuk, and Sisian. At Vayk, it is worth mentioning, the meeting was held at an auditorium provided by the town hall.

Regrettably, however, the journey also had its share of unfortunate incidents. At Areni, the village elder confronted Heritage representatives, saying that no one could hold any election campaign in his village without a 5-day notice. Raffi Hovannisian, however, corrected the village elder. “Areni is no one’s private property. It first belongs to all the villagers, and then to the entire people of Armenia,” he said.

Today and tomorrow, “Toward Victory” takes its message to the Vayots Dzor and Siunik marzes and surrounding cities and villages.

Also today at campaign headquarters in Yerevan, Heritage Party spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian, manager of the party’s headquarters Gevorg Kalenchian, Heritage’s representative at the Central Election Commission Armen Martirosian, and party faithful received a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI). The delegation comprised director Stephen B. Nix of IRI’s Eurasia Division, in-country representative Meri Kosian, and Rasa Alisauskiene, an expert from the Baltic Services of the Gallup Organization.

The guests presented the latest results of IRI’s survey, according to which Heritage’s rating registers a steady monthly growth. It is also apparent that the majority of the Armenian public is dissatisfied with the current situation and places its hopes on noble, untainted, trustworthy, and patriotic political figures. The majority of the poll’s respondents still consider Raffi Hovannisian one such person.