Dear colleagues of the Prosperous Armenia Party,

Let me be sincere: it will be difficult for me to give answers to all the questions that today our society has to the Prosperous Armenia Party and that you have as PAP members, devotees of the party. I believe that there is no need to explain what a huge responsibility it is to lead the Prosperous Armenia Party after Gagik Tsarukyan. However, quitting the active politics was his own decision and irrespective of our disapproval, each person has the right to make his own decisions and we have to respect our colleague’s decision. 

Yes, after Gagik Tsarukyan had left politics and resigned as PAP leader, let me be honest, there were many discussions both in the political team and regional institutions on the party’ future. I don’t want to refer once again to those considerations, as I believe, and also with Gagik Tsarukyan’s encouragement, we have made a right decision to continue the PAP activity as we have responsibility first of all before our electors and our citizens. We extend our deepest gratitude to Gagik Tsarukyan for his honest and devoted activity.  

Dear colleagues,

Has a part of society been disappointed from the Prosperous Armenia Party after the recent events? I’ll not be frank to say no. It might have had the right for that. On behalf of all us I apologize to those of our compatriots whose hopes we couldn’t justify. Today, I don’t wish to speak about the causes of the occurred events, about our and other’s mistakes. For analyzing the occurred events we need time, but it surely should be done for the right conclusions on our next steps and activities. 

Yes, today we live not easy times for the party, but strong and viable is the party, which is able to resist difficulties and continues its way, as it is sure that it has a mission before our country for resolving serious systemic problems. These problems haven’t disappeared and in resolving them we are going to be fundamental and decisive. I insist again that those problems we will be able to handle only by a broad consolidation, by helping each other, by becoming a real, rather than simulated allies and partners. This is the way and there is no other way.

We shall continue to protect all the social groups’ interests, as we have always done it that way before, both in the parliament and out of the parliament and it was the result of our persistent struggle that we achieved certain results together with the representatives of thousands of small and medium enterprises, and mutually accepted pattern was adopted. At the moment I don’t want to innumerate those initiatives that were aimed to mitigate citizen’s concerns and have given results.    

Dear collogues; it is not time to take hasty steps: now, it is the time to discuss, analyze and draw conclusions on the occurred events soberly and without excessive emotions. We should be accountable before the public why the events have developed this way and which steps should be taken henceforth to resolve really serious problems that the country faces. 
We should realize that the state’s and people’s problems haven’t been addressed, not even mitigated after this inner political crisis. 
If our objective is really to be next to our people and struggle for the people’s rights, this means we should seriously work in that direction. Our struggle has never been for chairs and posts, and I believe that public knows it quite well.   
The Prosperous Armenian Party, believe me, has serious work to do and we, those gathered here, and each of us, that, since the first day of our party’s establishment, has built our party and been able to earn the people’s trust, has no moral right to turn and leave.   

Dear fellow party members,

There are sophisticated, but not insurmountable and unsolvable situations in case your goal and wish are honest. I am sure that the goal of all of us is to have a strong state and a citizen living a decent live, and for that sake we will continue to work both in the parliament and out of it. It is not going to be easy for each of us, but it is not the first time we have been able to overcome difficult situations. I sincerely confess that in the newly created situation we have serious work to do within the party: to think, analyze, draw conclusions, so I apologize to the mess media for we, my colleagues and I, don’t have and are not ready to give answers to all the questions today.

Believe me, it is not easy for me to assume the post of the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party. I understand and soberly assess all the possible difficulties and problems. But all of them will be overcome only in case we are united and move forward by helping each other. I declare with full responsibility that we will make all the decisions together, consulting with each other, discussing, as this is the most effective tool for party democracy. I need help from each of you and I am sure that together we can restore somewhat disrupted dialogue with people and continue working for resolving the most serious problems that the country faces.   

Dear colleagues,

Consulting with all of you, today, I declare the Prosperous Armenia Party as opposition. The same I will announce on the upcoming four-day sittings of the National Assembly in accordance with law. Naturally, we need time to plan our strategy and further steps. A serious stage of discussions and analyses is expected for us now, for drafting a precise and perceptible strategy. We are going to do it together, as we have responsibility before our nation. There is no other way. 

In the end, two words about me. I am willing to work. I am for the teamwork, for inner-Party discussions and debates.  However, I want to be absolutely sincere with you: if there comes a moment I feel my work doesn’t give any result, my colleagues’ and my ideas are not in compliance with the work to be done and the future, I will resign my authorities as a PAP leader with dignity. I will not do anything, which will dishonour the party and upset the people. You can be sure in that. Once again I am grateful for your trust.