Qualities Embodied by Raffi Hovannisian to Affect Decisions Made by Heritage Party, Free Democrats

In a joint declaration comprised on Mar. 24 but disseminated today, the Heritage Party and the Free Democrats declare themselves “a union — a complete political and civic alternative for the citizens of our republic.”

The declaration, titled “Covenant for a New Armenia,” reads much like an election campaign platform and outlines the parties’ values and beliefs on a number of topics including civil rights, economics, Armenia-Turkey relations, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and cooperation with Russia, the US and the EU. It reads, in part, as follows:

“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 [Heritage Party leader] Raffi K. Hovannisian [pictured]. 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.”