June 10, 2005

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN CALLS HERITAGE PRESS CONFERENCE

Yerevan—In the wake of its Third Congress recently held here, the Heritage party’s executive board today convened its first meeting with journalists at its central headquarters.

The press conference of the party, which aspires to a leading role in the political life of Armenia , opened with a comprehensive report by its chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian on Heritage’s upcoming plans and long-term priorities.

Since the May 30 Congress, the board has held two plenary meetings during which Heritage’s activities, organizational measures, and issues flowing from the decisions and basic documents of the Congress have been assessed and determined.

"The board has authorized me to commence a series of inter-party consultations, to include not only the well-known names of our friends and colleagues but also the entire political spectrum," Hovannisian said, pointing out that the party first and foremost faces the tasks of bringing to life the provisions and programs adopted by the Congress and of seeking out the public pulse through face-to-face meetings with the regional representatives and members of Heritage.

Speaking about the systemic changes that are an essential component of Heritage’s policy approach, Raffi Hovannisian underscored the national priority of a democratic transformation during the course of this very year as an effective prerequisite to stand up to and surmount internal and external challenges alike. "Transformation is neither regular nor pre-term; it is imperative and of the essence," he concluded.

In responding to the journalists’ questions, the chairman of Heritage once again clarified the positions of this new political force on various aspects of domestic and foreign policy, holding that it supports the smooth realization of a complex of improvements in the Republic.

Board member and law professor Hrair Tovmasian touched upon a question about the proposed constitutional reforms bill recently passed by the National Assembly in a first reading. Heritage’s stance is negative insofar as the suggested changes are cosmetic and will not bring about such tangible results as society expects of the Constitution, he maintained. What is more, Heritage will draw up and present to the public its own version of Armenia’s Constitution which will substantially differ from the ones currently in circulation.

During the press conference, complete answers were offered to queries concerning new opposition formats, regional cooperation, foreign policy orientations, the Karabagh conflict, the prospect of regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations, and other critical matters.