SERZH SARGSYAN SWORN IN AS NEW PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS:
President-Elect, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan was sworn in today as new president of Armenia at an inauguration ceremony at Opera and Ballet Theater.
Before the ceremony started Armenian flag was brought in to the hall, as well as the original copy of Armenia's Constitution and the 7-th century Bible from Matenadaran Institute of Old Manuscripts.
Placing his right hand on the Bible and the Constitution Serzh Sargsyan took the oath by swearing "to fulfill the requirements of the Constitution in an unreserved manner; to respect
the fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms; to ensure the protection, independence, territorial integrity and security to the glory of the Republic of Armenia and to
the welfare of the people of the Republic of Armenia".
Then Catholicos Karekin II, head of the Armenian Church, took the rostrum to give his
blessings to the new president. He said Serzh Sargsyan takes over as president at a crucial moment in the country's history to serve the homeland and the people.
In his speech Sargsyan said he recognizes the enormous responsibility that he has assumed. "I know that I will be the one whom you will consider responsible for everything. I pledge
not to avoid the responsibility, the magnitude of which I realized when joining the Republican Party and declaring that I would agree to be nominated for the presidential elections only in
case the Republican Party won the largest number of votes in the parliamentary elections. I realize the magnitude of the responsibility now, and I shall recognize it every day for the next
five years. I shall bear with honor the responsibility of being the President of all citizens of the Republic of Armenia," he said.
He thanked his supporters, all the individuals that have voted for his program. "I am grateful for the confidence. I assure you that together we can improve life in our country. Today, I
call for a change. Once again, we are proclaiming a new beginning for change. Everyone must be ready to start change from one's own self," he said.
He also appealed to that part of people who voted for other candidates saying that was their right to vote for someone other than him, adding that he does not have the right not to be their president either.
"We should not part, should not create division between various parts of our people, should not disregard each other's concerns and pain, and should not go beyond each other's reach.
Even if a wall of misunderstanding stands between us, I urge you to join us in eliminating that wall,' Sargsyan said.
He also expressed his gratitude to President Robert Kocharian, 'a man who will have a solid place in the Armenian history, as the decade of his presidency were years of significant
achievements for our country, achievements based on which we have set ambitious targets for the future."
"President Kocharian has performed an invaluable role in the establishment, advancement,
and protection of the Republic of Mountainous Karabakh. I am confident that generations will duly appreciate his service and contribution to the development and strengthening of our
statehood,' the new president said.
"We shall build the Armenia that brings together all Armenians, one that will be the
fatherland of any Armenian. We shall build the Armenia where mutual respect, love, and tolerance will prevail.
We shall build the Armenia where our citizens and families will live and realize their potential in security and dignity. We shall carry out a proactive foreign policy, and do everything to
find a just, peaceful, and favorable solution to the Artsakh issue. We shall build a strong, proud, and democratic state of Armenia, where everyone shall be equal before the law," Sargsyan said.
'I am confident that you, our fellow Armenians and friends, also hold the key to the success of all of our initiatives. To accomplish this historic mission, I once again urge us to unite.
Unity will be the platform for fundamental value creation and progress along the path of democracy and freedoms.
I shall do all of this, because I wish to be a president who will fully implement his program, bring peace and stable development to Armenia, enhance the reputation and image of our
country, overcome all of the major problems we currently face, and be capable of foreseeing and responding to all of the potential challenges. This is the type of President I can and shall be," he said.
Serzh Sargsyan said this ceremony takes place about a month after painful events, which inflicted wounds that are still fresh. "These wounds caused pain and bitterness to all of us.
Today, I urge to look forward, together to seek and find the path of reconciliation, that of development for the Armenia of future. I am confident that we cannot have real and tangible
success, unless we learn lessons from the past. What happened should teach all of us a lesson of vigilance and sobriety, compelling us to work with greater vigor and devotion," he said..
"Our people have given me their vote of confidence, and I must implement my program during the next five years. Our people have confided in me to overcome the challenges faced
by our country and to meet everyone's expectations. Five years is a rather short period to do all of this, hence it will be a period of everyday hard work. During this time, we shall
manage to do what is possible and beyond, to address the development challenges faced by our country. That is why I consider this ceremonial day a working day for me and my political team.' he concluded.
The ceremony was attended by representativesof 58 countries and of 12 international organizations.
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