COLOGNE, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Information technologies were one of the keys to the success of the Armenian velvet revolution, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his remarks at the Cologne Technical University, Armenpress correspondent reports.

“Transparency, accountability and better protection of human rights: here is the incomplete list of the positive changes that the digital and technological era promises. The Armenian people have successfully carried out it and are determined to their commitment to establish real democracy”, PM Pashinyan said.

According to him, the snap parliamentary elections (December 9, 2018) put an end to the first stage of the velvet revolution.

“Now we have a task which is also very important. We strongly need an economic revolution. For that purpose we plan to use all the opportunities provided by the digital era.

The technological innovation is also beneficial for the service providers: the global logistics supply chains became more effective, and the service prices declined. New markets were opened, the economic growth was promoted. And the most important is that the IT and the digital era are raising the countries’ international competitiveness. This mainly relates to small countries like Armenia which have limited impact on the global processes due to geographical and geopolitical limitations”, he said.

The Armenian PM said a technological revolution is going on for already decades, and this is an irreversible reality which takes us to the threshold of the 4th industrial revolution. “We are witnessing a progressive transformation of what we say and do. The digital devices changed the communication methods: today new formulas of relationships are being used between the consumers, producers and suppliers, and especially between the citizens and governments”, Pashinyan said.

He stated that the IT field is a priority direction for the Armenian government, as one of the pillars for economic development. “Taking into consideration the centuries-old traditions we have really took the path of building a technological and industrial economy”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Cologne Technical University on the sidelines of his official visit in Germany. He was welcomed by the University Rector, Professor Stefan Herzig. After the meeting with the University’s executives, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Cologne Technical University and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. The memorandum was signed by Rector Stefan Herzig and Armenia’s Ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan. Thereafter, the Armenian PM met with the University’s students and teaching staff.

After the visit to the University he will meet with Mayor of Cologne Henriette Reker.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan