Artur Vanetsyan: 'Together, we will first achieve victory in Vagharshapat'

Local self-government elections are scheduled to be held in the enlarged Armenian community of Vagharshapat on November 16. The Homeland Party has nominated poet and publicist Khachik Manukyan as its candidate for community head.

“I am confident that Mr. Manukyan is the right person to take on the responsibility of leading our spiritual capital. With his dedication and hard work, he will breathe new life into the development of Echmiadzin and the surrounding villages. Together, we will achieve victory first in Vagharshapat, and then throughout Armenia. Let's get to work, dear colleagues. God be with us,” Homeland Party leader Arthur Vanetsyan wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

The former director of the National Security Service stressed that opening new party offices across the country is not an end in itself.

“The goal is to communicate with the people, to understand their problems and to find solutions,” Vanetsyan told supporters and party members during a campaign meeting in Vagharshapat.

In turn, Khachik Manukyan said his decision to run in the elections was driven by a sense of duty to his city and community.

“At this decisive moment, I am certain that the eyes of all Armenians will be on Echmiadzin as our spiritual center. Rest assured, we will take those victorious steps. Why with the Homeland Party? Because it is a new force full of young people, professionals and scholars. Each time I visit this office, I meet individuals devoted to our nation and country. We are not afraid to speak the word ‘victory.’ We will never disguise defeat as victory and will achieve real victories,” Manukyan declared in his speech.