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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

Armenia undergoes democratic transformation, Pashinyan says during visit at Konrad Adenauer Foundation

Armenia undergoes democratic transformation, Pashinyan says during visit at Konrad Adenauer 
Foundation

BERLIN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today visited the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on the sidelines of his official visit in Germany, Armenpress correspondent reports.

Pashinyan was welcomed by the Foundation’s President Norbert Lammert.

“The Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s activities are based on the principles of freedom, justice and solidarity”, Pashinyan said in his remarks. He stated that like Germany 7 decades ago, today’s Armenia as well are undergoing a democratic transformation. The Armenian PM said the velvet revolution in Armenia last year was deriving the Foundation’s ideas and principles.

“Last year historical changes took place in Armenia. We restored the democracy that has been abused and distorted from the times when we resisted the communist regime. Today I am proud that democracy in Armenia is no longer under danger”, he said.

The Armenian PM said the recent parliamentary elections strengthened the already existing achievements and proved that the Armenian people do not see alternative to democracy. He noted that the Armenian voter rejected all those whose names were linked with corruption, restriction of fundamental freedoms, bad governance, economic inefficiency and etc.

Pashinyan said today the government has an unprecedented legitimacy and public trust vote. According to the results of the recent poll, more than 70% of the public is confident that the country is moving on the right direction.

“This unprecedented trust level obliges us to make decisive reforms, and we have no right to fail on this matter. On the other hand, the public trust gives a unique opportunity which we must use for strengthening our achievements and protecting the future of democracy in our country. We believe that turning our political achievements into economic ones must be the next step of the transformation process. In other words, we need to carry out an economic revolution”, he said.

As a way to achieve that the PM highlighted the creation of favorable conditions for the free and unlimited realization of the people’s business and intellectual potential.

“In particular, at the moment we are taking radical actions in fighting corruption, eliminating monopolies, ensuring equal conditions for all economic and political players and creating independent judiciary. In order to reach success on the path of these reforms we are developing our economic and political institutions”, Nikol Pashinyan said.  

Armenia is determined to this path, but according to the PM, like other countries in transition stage, Armenia as well needs additional support to accelerate the reforms. In this context, the PM drew the attention of the meeting participants on the following fact.

“None of the post-Soviet states managed to upgrade the institutions without financial and technical assistance. Armenia is also not an exception. Moreover, in addition to the challenges typical to the post-Soviet states, Armenia has resisted a number of other challenges from the first days of independence. In this sense the partnership with the EU plays a major role for our reforms agenda. It’s difficult to overestimate the importance of the EU’s support provided to Armenia in the last quarter century”, he said.

Armenia is committed, but the PM noted that the EU’s financial and technical assistance can accelerate and strengthen the ongoing processes in Armenia. He emphasized the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with the EU. According to him, its implementation can greatly contribute to the development of institutions. The PM said Armenia wants to deepen its economic relations with the EU member states.

“Germany is one of our main donors and trade partners. We are cooperating in numerous sectors, including IT, energy, tourism, culture, education, science and etc. We are committed to strengthening our ties and examining new economic cooperation prospects. New democratic Armenia provides great opportunities for trade and investments. In addition to the ongoing sustainable institutional reforms, we also have several other advantages”, the PM said, stating that Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which supposes free entry to the market worth 180 million and uninterrupted activities of free trade deals with a number of countries of the world.

According to Pashinyan, Armenia can serve as an economic bridge connecting the EU and the EAEU markets.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan








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