The first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan running in the presidential election in 2008 summed up the first stage of the movement initiated by him in the December 22 congress of forces supporting him. According to Levon Ter-Petrosyan, it ended in the defeat of the regime. The Congress united the People’s Part of Armenia, the Republic Party and the All-Armenian Movement comprise the core of the forces which support him. Among his supporters Levon Ter-Petrosyan enumerates the Social Democratic Henchak Party of Armenia, the Union of Democratic Forces, the Marxist Party, the Conservative Party, the Heritage Party, the Freedom Party, the Democratic Fatherland Party, the Liberal Progressive Party, and several other parties and dozens of NGOs. Although 580 delegates were invited there was even no place to stand in the hall. About 20 speeches were heard (made by the chairpersons of the above-mentioned parties and organizations). At the end the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan, presidential candidate, made a 1.5 hour speech and addressed the congress of political parties and civil society which support him and stated that the government is up for tearing to parts the potential of the opposition, encouraging nomination of sham candidates. Levon Ter-Petrosyan explained this circumstance as dangerous, saying that thereby the government is first creating additional resource, as well as dissipating votes and facilitating fraud. In Demirchyan’s words the goal of those forces is to restore the constitutional order in the country, fully reveal the case of October 27, efficiently fight against corruption by segregating the business and the government. “Our victory will be undoubted if we work expediently and jointly,” said the PPA chairman. The chairman of the ANM Ararat Zurabyan announced that the victory of Levon Ter-Petrosyan is the victory of the Armenian people and expressed a hope that on February 20 the Armenian people will celebrate not only the 20th anniversary of the Armenian National Movement but also the victory of the first president of Armenia in the upcoming elections. According to the assessment of the leader of the Republic Party Aram Sargsyan the greatest challenge of Armenia in the new millennium is the incumbent government of Armenia. “We have to win for the sake of the just revelation of the October 27 case, for the NKR conflict resolution, for the sake of democracy strengthening and for freedom…” he said and assured that in the upcoming elections all the military people are going to vote for the commander of their victories. The leader of the Marxist Party Davit Hakobyan also made a speech, who said that he was proud to be next to Ter-Petrosyan. On behalf of the NGOs supporting Ter-Petrosyan the coordinator of the Alternative civic movement Nicol Pashinyan, made a speech. By mentioning that Ter-Petrosyan is number one winner of the upcoming elections he added that event the 100% possibility of victory is not enough and that the actual victory depends on every single citizen. The chairman of the Democratic Way Party Manuk Gasparyan requested all the other candidates to communicate their platforms instead of marring the reputation of the first president. Otherwise they will have to deal with him. “Armenia deserves to have a smart and an intellectual president,” in his speech mentioned the chair of the Conservative Party Michael Hayrapetyan. And the chair of the Human Rights 96 party Ruben Torosyan said that in past he had numerously criticized the first president and even the name of his party speaks of that. But he mentioned that Ter-Petrosyan is very democratic. That’s why they are endorsing him. Former party comrade of Edward Yegoryan, the chair of the Christian Democratic Renaissance Sos Gimishyan mentioned if “Yegoryan’s life wasn’t taken away he would now be next to Ter-Petrosyan” despite the fact that he used to be one of the strictest critics of the first president.
