Every Day Shepherds and Soldiers Will Be Captured, the Enemy Will Capture New Villages and Towns: Serzh Sargsyan

The speech of the third president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, at the ceremonial presentation of the program and team of the "I Have Honor" alliance.

I see that many of you are surprised that my speech was scheduled first in the protocol, but Mr. Vanetsyan spoke first. I believe that is correct; I suggested it and in this way, I once again emphasized that General Vanetsyan leads our electoral list, meaning he should always be the first, he should lead our team, and I, with my experience, capabilities, and advice, will stand behind him when necessary, standing behind each of you.

So, everything is correct.

Dear colleagues,

Today, under unusual circumstances, the campaign for the early parliamentary elections begins. As you know, these elections were not our goal or our dream. The early elections were enforced upon all of us in these difficult days for the homeland, and we accepted the challenge and are ready to make this fight or, as our epic states, to deliver the last blow for the future of Armenia.

The power of these capitulators, who love their own seats more than the homeland, unfortunately, did not leave and chose to lead the people, who are already in a psychological heavy state, into new shocks through early elections, which we were initially against.

The "I Have Honor" electoral alliance formed by the Republican Party of Armenia and the "Homeland" party demonstrates the necessity of reaching compromises and working together for national purposes.

As you know, our alliance is led by Arthur Vanetsyan. Over various occasions in recent weeks, I have already spoken about Arthur Vanetsyan's impeccable service, patriotism, and the reasons for forming an alliance with the Republican Party.

In the next two weeks, our candidates will travel to all regions of the Republic with us, and we will present our plans and visions of the future to our people.

We are determined. Every member of our team—whether on the list or off—can confidently state that they possess knowledge, experience, sufficient will, and honor to cleanse the country from the disgrace of these capitulators.

We all must clearly understand that this is not an ordinary election. This time, unfortunately, the choice is between having a state and not having one. This election is between losing and not losing the homeland. This election is yet another chance for peoples without an independent state to join together or to avoid it, possibly the last chance.

I do not want my grandchildren or your children to hang pictures of Tatev Monastery or Lake Sevan next to a depiction of Ararat on their wall as a reminder of yet another part of the lost homeland.

Dear teammates,

In the past three years, the Republican Party went through the political persecution of 2018, became a target of hate speech, and every effort was made to silence us, but we did not remain silent or retreat. For me and my teammates, it is now easy to say 'we warned you', 'we predicted this', and so forth. But those words are now useless; they will not bring back our 5000 fallen heroes, nor will they create homes for the 35,000 refugees, nor will they restore our national dignity.

Who could have thought that our heroes, who gave their lives for their native land, would not even have the opportunity to peacefully and eternally rest in that same land?

Due to these traitors, Armenia has lost the respect and trust of its allies. This populist and dishonorable authority has only managed one thing well: that we become divided as a nation, weaken, lose the war, and be condemned to a slow death. And now we are in that situation.

Upcoming elections are a chance to overcome death and to revive.

During these days, we sometimes observe attempts to divert the political agenda in the wrong direction. I have never been an advocate of black-and-white or other destructive divisions. Through my activities, I have always tried to ensure solidarity and unity within our country. Our task is to restore inter-societal solidarity in the country and to close the path to polarization. There are not two poles. This lesson should have been learned by everyone already. On one side is the traitorous capitulator with his servants, and on the other side are the people and leading forces of a healthy political field. Our goal is not to lead to the next polarization and divisions, but to defeat the capitulators' government by the victory of all.

I often hear from thousands of my teammates, including many present here, whether, in the event of victory in the elections, which I am more than confident about, the opportunists will not once again appear in our ranks—perhaps due to my forgiveness or perhaps due to my lack of resentment? Let me say this: in this most severe national crisis, when our state is declared war both from within and from outside, we must consider everything unimportant except for turning the outcome of the war in our favor.

Therefore, all those who will stand beside us in the trench against this state-destroying evil from this moment on—again, I say from this moment on, not when they feel the scent of our victory, and they too will join the effort to bring back a confused portion of society—we will not declare leniency, but general pardon, for nothing is more valuable than the homeland; otherwise, for me, they will remain deserters—with all the consequences.

And finally, a few words to our compatriots who are still confused:

By voting for this traitor, you will agree to the handover of Artsakh, and subsequently of Syunik. You will allow the continuation of the war. For 27 days now, enemy troop formations have been on our sovereign territory. Every day shepherds and soldiers will be captured. The enemy will capture new villages and towns. You will not be respected outside or inside; you will be dishonored. We will become a state and a people that no one wants to reckon with.

I also appeal to my compatriots who are disappointed and indifferent: Armenians, my dear Armenians, come out of this deadly and destructive veil of indifference!

I call upon all our supporters, Make use of this campaign to talk with your friends and relatives still afflicted by Nikolism, to answer their questions. Help them. They are your sisters and brothers. Be patient and sincere. We owe it to our heroic martyrs, to the soldiers who sacrificed their health for the homeland, to the officers and their generations, to provide a victorious and powerful homeland. Repaying debts is a matter of dignity for a normal person, a matter of honor, and we have honor. God strengthen us all.