On August 2, the work of the National Assembly of the 8th convocation of Armenia began.
The first session of the 8th convocation of the National Assembly began with the Lord’s Prayer, which was recited by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II.
Then President Armen Sarkissian congratulated the deputies who entered parliament on the occasion of the first session and wished them success and effective work.
“You have been given the opportunity to first develop and then implement real, strategic programs aimed at the future. The citizens of the Republic of Armenia expect that solutions to existing problems will be found and that the will will be demonstrated to guide Armenia toward development, toward the future. That future must be built around the vision of a strong, balanced and progressive state. The future is not the interests of any one of us individually or of a separate party; the future is us, as one whole,” said the President.
Everything must be done to protect and preserve Armenia’s statehood, declared Armen Sarkissian, emphasizing that the essence of effective governance is first of all being honest and responsible.
“First of all, one must be honest and responsible. Attempts to present the desirable as reality, demagoguery and populism are a road to a dead end. We must speak honestly, openly and directly about existing problems, soberly and calmly assess our real capabilities, have the courage to admit our shortcomings and mistakes and answer for them. Each of us must feel responsible for the future of our country, our statehood. Only honest and just governance can change the situation, overcome disappointment, instill optimism, restore and strengthen the bond between the citizen and the state,” said the President.
Armen Sarkissian stressed that the time has come to have a state that fulfills its primary functions with full responsibility, including ensuring the security of the borders and the population, protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, achieving a just resolution of the Artsakh issue, developing the economy, science and culture, ensuring a dignified standard of living, guaranteeing the protection of human rights and freedoms, and ensuring civil solidarity.
“The President’s staff is ready, within the framework of its limited constitutional capabilities, to make a clear practical contribution to the building of a substantive state, a state that takes upon itself the responsibility of leading the nation toward the future,” concluded the President.
Then the swearing-in ceremony of the deputies took place.
