In an interview with Russia 24 TV Channel Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spoke about the socio-economic problems Armenia faces, the perspectives of economic development, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, and in some way summed up the results of the five years of his presidency.
Armenia on the peak of electoral processes
According to Serzh Sargsyan, parliamentary elections were the most important event in the passing year.
The President reminded that Armenia was on the peak of electoral processes in the past year. “In May we held parliamentary elections, local self-government elections were held in September, presidential elections are expected in two months.”
Speaking about the 2012 parliamentary elections, President Sargsyan noted: “I’m glad that the parliamentary elections were well-conducted. I was heading the proportional list of the Republican Party. The elections were held in a competitive atmosphere,” the President said.
Serzh Sargsyan underlined that “the international community has positively assessed the Armenian parliamentary elections.
Open society created in Armenia
The Armenian President said he has good chances to win the trust of the people and be elected for the second term. Underlining that the country faces a number of problems, Serzh Sargsyan said “an open society has been created in Armenia.”
“People are free to criticize the authorities, there is a competitive struggle, the mass media are free,” the President said.
The business environement has improved
“Of course we have many problems as regards socio-economic development. We suffered from the global financial-economic crisis, we had a 14% decline, but we have managed to recover over time. Last year we reported a 4% of GDP growth and hope to reach 7% this year,” Serzh Sargsyan said.
The President said the business environemtn in the country has improved, and this is proved by Central Bank indices.
Speaking about the Turkish blockade, Serzh Sargsyan said Armenian exporters are in a disadvantageous position, and Armenia develops those branches of economy, which are competitive and are not hampered by the transport component.
The President noted that the Information Technologies are rapidly developing in Armenia. “The production in the field has grown thrice in the past five years and about 10 thousand people are employed in the sphere,” President Sargsyan said.
Karabakh has no future under Azerbaijani jurisdiction
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spoke about the Karabakh issue in an interview with Russia 24 TV Channel. Serzh Sargsyan underlined that last year’s events once again confirmed what the people of Nagorno Karabakh had been speaking about in the course of 70 years – they have no future under Azerbaijani jurisdiction.
“When those people hear the Azerbaijani leadership saying every day that Armenians are their enemy, that Yerevan, which will soon celebrate its 2800th anniversary, is an Azerbaijani land, when a murderer is being glorified and reimbursed for the years spent in the Hungarian court, they will not even want to listen about or have anything to do with Azerbaijan,” Serzh Sargsyan said.
President Sargsyan reminded that Armenia is the guarantor of security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and if Azerbaijan applies to force, Armenia will use all possible means to protect the people of Artsakh.
Asked whether Armenia will rely upon its CSTO partners, President Sargsyan said: “Of course, it would be strange not to rely upon their assistance, otherwise why would we remain in that alliance? Countries have joined that organization to help each other in case of necessity.”
At the same time, the President voiced hope that the peace process would continue and some solution would be found.
