YEREVAN – A meeting took place between Armen Sarkissian, the candidate for president of Armenia proposed by the current president, Serzh Sargsyan, and members of the Central Committee of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) and Vartan Nazerian, president of the ADL Supreme Council. at the ADL headquarters in Yerevan on February 11.
Hagop Avedikian, ADL Central Committee chairman, introduced Sarkissian and noted that his candidacy for that most important position of state encouraged the party. As it is well aware of his activity in both Armenia and the diaspora, it expects the creation of a new political culture, which would be a new phenomenon for Armenia.
Sarkissian declared that he first wished to hear the expectations and approaches of the party concerning his candidacy, domestic issues of Armenia and pan-Armenian affairs, and then he would present his vision. He said, “I have come to listen to you,” and recalled his visits during the first years of Armenian independence to the offices of the ADL newspaper Azg, when he was preoccupied with the idea of creating Armenian fonts for computer programs.
The ADL leaders spoke about the necessity of the rule of law in Armenia, changing the domestic atmosphere, constructing relations anew with the diaspora, and using diasporan networks productively and solving pan-Armenian issues. They specifically spoke about the necessity of creating a new political culture which will aid the development of knowledge and education and the independence of mass media.
Sarkissian one by one addressed these issues and presented his own approach and vision. He spoke about spurring the development of professions, education and knowledge, and, by utilizing Armenia’s wonderful human potential, assuring Armenia’s role in international progress as well as a larger market for its economy.
Sarkissian inspired optimism about carrying out changes in Armenia. He set out two approaches concerning the position of president, governance and leadership. The first is an executive function for which government exists. However, if he achieves the position of president, he would want to take on the role of leading the country toward a new manner of working, by means of a high level of education and rules that are accepted throughout the world.
