June 1, 2009 - 18:22 AMT
President congratulates Yerevan citizens
RA President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Yerevan citizens on first elections to Elders' Council. Declaring such elections as the start of a new government system, the President considered them a big advance towards enhancing democratic mechanisms. Mr. Sargsyan also congratulated "Prosperous Armenia" and Armenian National Congress (ANC), noting the latter's progress during pre-election campaign.

"May 31 elections and the whole electoral campaign came to prove that we were capable of overcoming all difficulties we encountered in the past," he said.

Touching upon electoral incidents, the President noted, "Unfortunately, wrongdoings were observed in some polling stations. But my position is firm: individual interests cannot prevail over state interests," Mr. Sargsyan stressed.