On May 6, we are electing a new Parliament for Armenia. This is not simply a parliamentary election, but an election for Armenia’s future. The Prosperous Armenia Party, through these parliamentary elections, aims to assume the greatest possible share of responsibility in fashioning the next five years of Armenia’s future. The May elections will indeed be critical for Armenia. Allow me to explain why and how, by focusing on two highly crucial matters for the Armenian people – issues the solutions to which will be consequential for nearly all the other problems before us. Those challenges are emigration and Nagorno Karabakh.
The National Statistical Service recently issued preliminary results for the 2011 census, according to which Armenia’s population is now 2,871,000. In other words, we’ve fallen below the 3 million psychological mark and we can no longer say we are a country of 3 million, because we are not. It is obvious that if, in future years, Armenia’s socio-economic, political and psychological situation doesn’t undergo a categorical change, in the not-too-distant future we will drop to the 2.5 million mark.
We must put a halt to the out migration. In order to do that, we must answer one question: Why are they leaving?
They are leaving because they have lost hope and faith in the country’s future.
They are leaving because of injustices.
They are leaving because they have no trust.
They are leaving because they cannot earn their daily bread.
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Is it possible that 20 years after independence, our state cannot ensure its people a life of dignity and justice? Of course it can.
Is it possible that 20 years after independence, our state cannot offer its people hope and faith in the country’s future. Of course it can.
It doesn’t take much to do this. We don’t need a new constitution, we don’t need new laws. All that is needed is political will on the part of those who come to power, for them to set aside their personal, factional and partisan interests and ensure that Armenia’s Constitution and legislation are equally applied to all.
That means that in the economic sphere, the fundamental principles of a free market are protected: equal opportunity, open competition and inviolability of private property; and in the political sphere, the fundamental principles of democracy: justice, tolerance, freedom of speech and individual freedoms.
These are to be the guiding principles of the Prosperous Party’s work in the next five years.
In contrast to the policy targets of today’s government, Prosperous Armenia will make economic growth, job creation and raising each citizen’s standard of living the main targets of its economic policy.
Thus, the government must look upon each socio-economic sphere not just for its primary function, but specifically from the perspective of economic growth, job creation and raising each citizen’s standard of living.
In other words,
If the preservation, improvement and construction of infrastructure is essential to ensure the country’s normal functioning and security, then budget-supported targeted and continuous construction of infrastucture must serve as a serious stimulus for economic growth.
If budget revenues are essential to meet the needs of the society and the state, then tax policy, tax rates and the tax base, as well as tax collection mechanisms, must be designed such that they contribute, and not hinder, to economic growth and job creation.
If the state is obliged to enable pensioners, veterans and the disabled to live a life of dignity in their own country, and these groups together constitute one-fourth of the population, then it must do so with the conviction that the higher their purchasing power, the greater the benefits not just to them, but to the country’s economy.
And we can continue in the same vein with regards to the environment, education, health, trasnport, agriculture and other spheres.
Indeed, in the next five years, we must direct all our internal and external resources, without reservation, towards strengthening Armenia’s economy. That is the path to social justice, to sustainable development, to decent health and education.
And now, about Karabakh.
In my view, in certain government circles and certain segments of society, worrisome perceptions have been formed regarding Karabakh.
Instead of our Karabakh victories and the diplomatic affirmation of Karabakh’s right to self-determination serving as the wellspring of faith, hope and passion and the force driving the country’s progress and development, Azerbaijan’s outbursts, border encroachments and threats of war have come to serve as justification for suppression, for lack of action in the field of human rights and civil liberties, and therefore impede progress and democratization.
People often say that so long as there is the Karabakh issue and the constant threat of war, we dare not allow ourselves the “luxury” of total democratization, all rights and liberties, and complete tolerance. I would say just the opposite.
Because we have the Karabakh conflict, even more reason to reinforce democracy.
Because the threat of war hangs over our heads, even more reason to create a political system based on checks and balances.
Because we have the Karabakh conflict, even more reason to create a free, fair, competitive and appealing economy.
Because we have the threat of war hanging over our heads, even more reason to more quickly and sincerely adopt the European value system that is compatible with our national values, and integrate into European structures.
Because we have the Karabakh conflict, even more reason that we, Armenians all over the world, act in unison and maximally utilize the potential of Armenia, Karabakh and the Diaspora.
Dear Compatriots,
Karabakh has achieved self-determination. If not self-determination itself, but the right of the people of Karabakh to self-determination has been recognized by the international community. During these years, we have made one thing clear – that Nagorno Karabakh can never be a part of Azerbaijan.
Today, our challenge is to move from the recognition of the right of self-determination to the recognition by the international community of the fact that Karabakh has achieved self-determination. One of the most important preconditions for that is that the level of democratization of Armenia and Karabakh be without parallel in Azerbaijan and the region.
Compatriots,
The Prosperous Armenia Party is convinced that the country is healthy and strong when its citizens are healthy, strong and free. When these elections are over, all of us – the electors and the elected – must be able to look at each other and say that we have work to do, together, so that we, our children, our parents, our neighbors and our friends do trust in their and their country’s future.
Vartan Oskanian’s Office