Today Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan organized a public rally at Republic Square. He declared that,” I welcome all of you and congratulate you regarding the successful presidential election proceedings.” He noted that this was the first time in the annals of Armenian history that two elections were successfully concluded back to back and in both instances they received positive marks.

People were bused in from various regions of Armenia to Yerevan to hear Serzh Sargsyan speak. The crowd included workers at various state agencies and schools and even students. The assembled people broke off into small groups and were talking throughout the rally.

The Prime Minister continued saying, “What has brought us here together is the joy of victory and the concern we share regarding our country’s future. As I speak our soldiers posted at the borders are defending the country, our teachers in our schools are busy educating a new generation and our doctors are caring for our brothers and sisters.”

In the words of Sargsyan - we have assembled in Republic Square to treat a different kind of wound. “It’s the wound that these elections have inflicted on the skin of our people.”

“From this lofty podium I am calling on all former candidates and their political supporters...Let’s collaborate together, even going as far as forming a coalition government.” He underlined that one of his aims was to utilize all constructive forces for the benefit of Armenia’s development.

“Today, however, we are witness to another phenomenon. We are witnessing the division and break-up of the society and how an aggressive grouping wishes to achieve its aim at any cost; in its own words even ‘to tear it all down’. We will be victorious over this division as well”; the Prime Minister assured the crowd. He urged that people should not be filled with anger towards those rallying at the Opera’s Freedom Square since they are “our sisters and brothers” and they too wish to see a better Armenia. He continued, “Sadly, they haven’t been permitted to see how they are being used to achieve the vindictive and careerist ambitions of a few individuals.”

“I am well aware how angry you have been these last few days, following events as they unfold. I know how many people are ready to take to the streets to defend the ballots they cast. I am well aware of all this. But I ask that you suppress your emotions. If you have something to say, please let them be exhortations to see reality. If you want to take concrete action, let them be steps towards cooperation and the common good. I implore you to always remember that it’s our sisters and brothers assembled in the other square.”

Despite the fact that Armenian pop stars started to perform after the Prime Minister’s speech, the majority of the crowd started heading up North Avenue towards Freedom Square to join the supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.