After three and half years of gap the ANC resumed its series of round-the-clock rallies.
The previous day, September 30 was the last day of their negotiation demands, and the ANC declared that start of large-scaled planned protests. Decision of the non-stop gatherings was made yesterday at 8PM in the Liberty Square by the ANC and rally participants. ANC meets your wish of holding spontaneous actions though consensus, and from now on I declare the start of non-stop rallies… On behalf of the ANC I propose one-week, round-the-clock protest”, ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan told the crowd. He listed the 8 demands to be implemented by the Government having been declared at the last rally. Like last time this time also Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that out of 8 demands only the first two are difficult, which claim of presidential and parliamentary snap elections by the end of the year, as well as make necessary changes in the Electoral Code before elections, by covering their demands. L. Ter-Petrosyan repeated that they are not maximalists and are ready to take serious any reasonable compromise set forth by the authorities. Further, they are ready to restart a formal political dialogue parallel to gatherings to contribute compromises. As for direct communication with the RA president’s staff -Manushak Petrosyan, ANC Central Office member is certified. Once any practical result is failed to achieve Congress will decide either to stop or continue the rallies only after a week. It is worth to add as well, in his speech Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that it has been exactly four years since the pan-national movement set the objective of freeing the country of the bandit regime, underwent cruel assaults and persecutions, even the shootings against peaceful protesters and the imprisonment of hundreds of people. Even though the issue remains unsolved, the four-year struggle should be considered the showing of the Armenian nation’s civil and political maturity, or what’s more, the most significant show of national dignity that will finally give fruit. All nations are capable of immediate outbursts and upheavals, but as a rule, only those who remain courageous, persistent and determined achieve victory. Through the struggle and the capability of resisting the deprivations for the past four years, you proved your courage, persistence and determination know no boundaries. Don’t doubt that you will win sooner or later despite the mad resistance of the bandit regime, the unconditional support that the international community shows to the authorities, the ineptness and adaptation of a sector of society and all the other difficulties that you face. What’s more, you have already won since you haven’t come to grips with the horrible illegitimacy and you haven’t come to grips with the thought of inclining toward violence, illiteracy and provinciality and toward the impossibility of a way out. Right half an hour after decision making about gatherings, already through music a dozen of tents were located in the Liberty Square, where number of ANC activists and supporters were supposed to spend the night. Many participants of the rally made a round dance and many of them recalled the old days after 2008 elections in the same square. After the decision of holding twenty-four-hour gatherings Levon Ter-Petrosyan declared 7 behavioral norms to be strongly observed by all the people in the Liberty Square. In order to provide security of the rally different instructors were assigned, who were carrying “Instructor” badge. All the rally participants have to maintain iron discipline, no alcohol is allowed, neither noise nor music after 10PM not to disturb people’s peace, as well as any interaction with police. Anyone breaking those rules will be called provocateurs and be sent away from the square. Only Levon Zurabyan, Davit Shahnazaryan, Avetis Avagyan are entitled to negotiate with police. “I wish you to have unforgettable seven-day celebrations and to be cheerful, because nothing good will come out through anger, cruelty and bitterness”, state Levon Ter-Petrosyan after declaring the start of non-stop gatherings. It is worth to mention also, that in the beginning of yesterday’s rally, President of the Pan-Armenian Movement Aram Manukyan once again showed a parcel of 3 ruling party mandates (RPA, PPA, LS) and said that all mandate holders have given their mandates to the ANC last one week. In his words almost 90% of those mandates are from the RPA, signed by Andranik Margaryan and Serzh Sargsyan. For me, Robert Kocharyan’s return to politics is phony," First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan announced at Freedom Square. He noted that Robert Kocharyan was a "faded card" for all Armenians in Armenia and abroad. "He is not and hasn’t been a political figure," the First President said, noting that Kocharyan has never come to power through any party or with the people’s support in the NKR or Armenia. Kocharyan, according to him, "hasn’t advanced in politics with support", but has adapted to the system, starting from the Soviet system and then the Armenian Pan-National Movement. "He was one of the prominent representatives of the Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh)," the First President said, considering himself also to blame for Kocharyan’s entrance into Armenia’s active political life. "Kocharyan has never had the sympathy of the people and he never will," the First President said, noting the part in Kocharyan’s interview yesterday when he said he would return to politics, if the society demanded it. A. Manukyan stated yesterday that total weight of those tickets was 4 kg and the last parcel shown in the last rally weighted 3.75 kg. That is to say almost 8 kg mandates have been handed over to the ANC. Further they need to find out the weight of each party mandate, so that they know for sure how many people have resigned from that party. We would like to remind also that Ruben Tadevosyan, RPA deputy chairman had declared about more people having left the RPA than the ANC can show. A. Manukyan persuaded to those party members to receive even more mandates and keeping their names in confidence. During the rally Republic Party and other party leaders such as Aram Sargsyan and Stepan Demirchyan made their speeches at the rally, who presented the criminal-oligarchic regime created by those authorities, and how many people migrate being unable to tolerate those conditions anymore. The ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan announced that they had been waiting for this moment. According to him, the road map suggested by them in the declaration of ANC creation on August 1, 2008 is as follows: “freedom of rallies, including the rallies in the Liberty Square, release of political prisoners, followed by a dialogue with government, and formation of government legally elected by and accountable to the people by means of snap presidential and parliamentary elections”. “The moment has finally come, when we must realize the last and probably the most important part of our road map. We have been waiting for this historic moment for a long time. We have been waiting, since without reestablishment of the rights to rallies it was not possible to realize all the pressure by the people stipulated by the Constitution. We have been waiting, since our friends have been in prison, they were in fact the hostage of this government and we did not have the freedom to act. We have been waiting, since the government agreed to solve the people’s demand by means of negotiation. This opportunity may be considered invalid on September 30. There is nothing to wait for any more and our primary goal for which the people have to stand is the formation of legitimate government in Armenia as soon as possible,” announced Zurabyan. Yesterday till late at night ANC leaders were in the Liberty Square. They were walking among people and tents. As it was anticipated, music was turned off at 22:00. The active part of the rallies, i.e. the part of speeches will recommence today at 15:00.