Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a press conference held in Vanadzor on 16 September, presented 100 facts regarding the Government’s activity and accomplishments over the past year.
During the press conference, speaking about the Karabakh conflict, Pashinyan stated: “If Azerbaijan says that Karabakh must be within the composition of Azerbaijan, and this principle of the Azerbaijani side is absolute and admits no compromise, then Armenia must also say: Artsakh is Armenia, and that’s it. The problem is that Azerbaijan constantly declares that the Karabakh issue will be resolved on one principle — within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. However, during working discussions with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, it has been stated that the status of Karabakh can be different, even outside the composition of Azerbaijan.”
He once again confirmed that any solution to the Karabakh issue must be acceptable to the peoples of Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan, also reminding that he was the first leader of Armenia to speak of a solution acceptable to the people of Azerbaijan and was criticised for it.
Referring to the Amulsar mine issue, he stressed that in the event of non-operation, problems would arise concerning Armenia’s rating. “Armenia’s reputation will be placed in danger, which could create chain problems. But on the other hand, if Armenia follows the truth to the end, and it becomes clear that the mine cannot be operated from the perspective of our laws and environmental norms, then Armenia will suffer no damage to its reputation, because Armenia proves in every respect that it has been right to the end in all details, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Armenia and international law,” he noted, adding that in the event of operation, economic benefits could be derived.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister noted that, regardless of whether Amulsar is operated or not, Armenia’s economic forecasts are quite good. “We have set the goal of ensuring 8-9 percent economic growth. 18-19 was transitional, although the current state of the economy gives no grounds to speak of a transitional phase. I have clearly recorded that the economy has received our messages, and developments are taking place within that framework,” stressed Nikol Pashinyan.
Pashinyan also brought under the spotlight the draft law on making amendments to the “Law on Banking Secrecy,” noting that there is no turning back from it. “All those who are directly raising a fuss over this decision have no grounds for raising that fuss. I have said on one occasion that at the legal level of the fight against corruption, we must reach the level of the Scandinavian countries. Can anyone explain — when that system operates in the Scandinavian countries and European countries, why does the economy not collapse?” said the Prime Minister.
According to him, at the Government meeting he also stressed that one cannot wage a half-hearted fight against corruption, but rather a full-fledged fight. “On the other hand, the public says: why don’t you bring back what was plundered? They are right, we are bringing it back, but we are not bringing it back at sufficient speed, because that corrupt system that was created has adopted laws and restrictions for itself, so that you, as journalists, and all of us cannot have access and see the full picture,” he observed, adding that there is no need to raise a fuss over the law, that law will be adopted, and the money acquired through corruption will be returned to the state budget down to the last kopek, and will serve the army and Armenia’s security.
The Prime Minister noted that they have promised to resolve the housing problems of all soldiers of the Defense Army in Artsakh by 2020, meaning that soldiers who have been on the housing waiting list for decades will have apartments. “And that is not a big problem; by our calculations it is a matter of approximately 25 billion drams,” he emphasised.
