“I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE YOUR PRESIDENT” / VIDEO /
Support A1+!RA President's inauguration started at 2:00 p.m. Armenia's flag, Constitution and Bible had been taken to the Opera and Ballet Theatre from the President's residence before the offset of the inauguration ceremony.
“May the Lord give me strength to not disappoint anyone of my supporters! May the Lord give us all strength to overcome difficulties, to find the cure for all the problems that worry the disappointed or disillusioned ones, the ones who today need hope, faith, and optimism,” Serzh Sarkissian said in his speech after taking an oath.
Serzh Sarkissian's speech sounded like a supplication addressed to his supporters, “I am confident that each of you has an oath to serve our fatherland and our people.” Just at that moment the camera fixed on Minister for Local Government Hovik Abrahamian.
It is due to mention that before swearing in, Serzh Sarkissian entered the hall without anybody's escort. 118 MPs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and delegates of 58 countries were waiting for Serzh Sarkissian in the hall. The ceremony was attended by the RA presidential candidates except for Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrossian and Arman Melikian.
None of the heads of extra-parliamentary forces supporting Levon Ter-Petrossian, was invited to the inauguration by the authorities who used to call for solidarity and collaboration.
Today, journalists worked in exceptional conditions. Like ordinary citizens, they watched the live broadcast of the ceremony.
At the beginning of his speech Serzh Sarkissian thanked Robert Kocharian who was sitting in a balcony. Sarkissian’s words were followed by a loud applause.
Serzh Sarkissian also thanked his opponents, especially those “who admitted their defeat with dignity, those who reciprocated the extended hand of cooperation and accepted the offer to come together to develop the Republic of Armenia.”
Serzh Sarkissian also reffered to those people who had voted for another candidate. “A part of our people supported other candidates, and I now appeal to them: it was your right to vote for someone other than me, but I do not have the right not to be your president.” (To note, in 2003 Robert Kocharian said that he was the president of all Armenians despite the fact which candidate they had voted for)
The new president also pledged to find the cure for all the problems and wounds.
The Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torossian also thanked Robert Kocharian for efficient partnership and great achievements of the past ten years. Tigran Torossian didn’t refer to great losses over the past ten years, in part, the premature decease of Vazgen Sarkissian and Andranik Margarian who had great share in the establishment of Armenia's statehood and army. Nor did he spoke of the events of October 27.
