Candidates adopt "Covenant for a New Armenia"
A special meeting of the Heritage parliamentary list, including political figures and civil society representatives, was called on Saturday by Raffi K. Hovannisian in order to finalize the terms of an unprecedented political-civil partnership and to adopt a guiding manifesto titled the "Covenant for a New Armenia."
The document, which was adopted by unanimous decision, enshrines civil rights, state sovereignty, and the national interest as the supreme values of the union. "We shall contend first the upcoming parliamentary elections and then the presidential elections, with the single ambition of reinforcing these values," the document affirms. "We shall struggle for our victory and establish a new ruling authority with a new government."HERITAGE:
COVENANT FOR A NEW ARMENIA
We, the undersigned representatives of two political parties and the greater civil society of the Republic of Armenia, today declare ourselves a union-a complete political and civic alternative for the citizens of our republic-and embark together on a historic mission of democratic and national transformation, founded upon the freedom of thought and speech, and the open, unconstrained competition of ideas.
Our supreme values are civil rights, state sovereignty, and the national interest. We will contend first the upcoming parliamentary elections and then the presidential elections, with the single ambition of reinforcing these values. We shall struggle for our victory and establish a new ruling authority with a new government.
Within our union, we shall abide by a process of collegial decision-making, in harmony with the political, human, and ethical qualities embodied by Raffi K. Hovannisian. We hereby assume individual responsibility and collective accountability for the realization of our joint political decisions and commitments. We enter into a new covenant of true, unconditional civil service.
In economics, we defend the principle of free, competitive, and social markets. In the political sphere, we advocate for a parliamentary model of state administration.
We believe that Armenian-Turkish relations must be established upon the realization of historical justice and international law, recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and restitution for that Great National Dispossession. The Armenian-Turkish frontier must be opened and diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries achieved without preconditions. If Turkey continues to push its preconditions, however, then Armenia also must bring her preconditions to the table.
A rightful resolution in the matter of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic-Artsakh-must be anchored in the international affirmation of its sovereignty and integrity. As an independent republic, Artsakh must accede to world, and especially European, institutions.
Acknowledging the importance of a mutually strategic cooperation with Russia and the imperative of the development of a comprehensive partnership with the United States of America, we aim in our foreign policy for deep integration with the community of European nations and look forward to our republic's membership in the European Union.
For citizen, for freedom, and for the Republic of Armenia.
