ANC to start a series of rallies from February 17.

The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) announced on Thursday about its intention to start a series of rallies from February 17.

A legitimate government will be formed in Armenia only if the mechanism of election fraud is destroyed and free and fair elections are held in the country," said the opposition bloc.

"The previous elections have proved that the acting regime lacks the political will. Through public pressure we shall be able to reach legislative amendments thereby reducing the number of election fraud."

The opposition bloc says the aim of the rallies will be to force Serzh Sargysan to tender his resignation and establish mechanisms for holding free and fair elections. The Armenian National Congress pledges to do everything possible to enforce its demands for legislative amendments, which were outlined and made public on March 1, 2010.

"We are pleased to report that one of the demands included in this document - the issue of conducting parliamentary elections by a proportional system - is also pursued by two parliamentary parties (Heritage Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). We welcome the efforts of these political forces, the conduct of a forum on January 20 and plan to hold a rally on the day the issue is considered in parliament.

We call on forum participants and other political forces interested in forming a legal government through free and fair elections to show their support in carrying out the other, albeit not less important requirements, of the platform.

The Armenian National Congress is open to constructive cooperation and will support any decision of the forum that will contribute to the conduct of fair elections," said the opposition bloc.