President Serzh Sarkisian charts Armenia’s course after Constitutional reforms on Friday
YEREVAN—President Serzh Sarkisian on Friday evening convened a meeting of the legislative, executive and judicial branches, as well as high ranking official from territorial administration and local self-government bodies to outline the course of the Republic following the Constitutional changes, which were approved during a December referendum.
In his sweeping remarks, Sarkisian touched on domestic, as well foreign challenges facing Armenia and put forth his vision of the future of the Republic. The president touched on issues of social justice, corruption, emigration and the Artsakh conflict.
Below is the English language text of the speech as has been provided by the presidential press service.
Esteemed Colleagues,
After December 6, in many different formats we have been speaking about the directions, the timetable and the necessary sequence in the process of implementation of the constitutional changes. I believe, today we can already state that in our country the process of formation of a new political structure, introduction of a new political culture has been launched.
I have no doubt that as a result of the constitutional changes, the political structure of Armenia will become more open, more flexible, and intricate. It will reflect the dynamic and comprehensively developing social structure of our society; it will respond to the political culture of the free, secure, and critically thinking individuals. As in many democratic countries, political parties will become the leaders of political struggle. Parties and coalitions will form executive bodies and make nominations for the leading positions of the state and local governance bodies. They will acquire a lasting experience, responsible and meaningful interaction with the voters, partisan cooperation, and a compromise-based work style for finding solutions for acute social problems.
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The political structure will transform and improve thanks to the competition of the political formations, provided there is a partisan consensus on the strategic principles of foreign policy, social stability, national security, fundamental provisions of the constitutional structure and sovereignty, protection of the rights and freedoms of the citizens, and all forms of self-organization and local governance. Such consensus exists in almost every modern democratic state.
At this stage of implementation of constitutional changes, I believe it is important to once again present our vision regarding our future, and once again present our ideas. Let’s ask ourselves: How are we going to govern our state, to manage our nation’s heritage? How are we going to preserve and multiply it? What kind of Armenia we want to have tomorrow, ten or twenty years from now? What will be Armenia’s role and place in the world, what kind of Armenia our children, next generations will live in? Probably it is nothing new, probably I repeat myself but particularly at this stage I believe it is mandatory to fix it all, so that tomorrow, or day after tomorrow there are no different interpretations.
I am confident that today everyone is thinking: What steps it is necessary to take to make tomorrow better than today, to make our life better, to make our country more organized, more stable, more attractive for our fellow citizens and for the foreigners? What to do to make high-quality education and health care affordable to all? What to do so that patriotism is never just words, what to do to make our country’s empowerment a source of happiness for all?
We cannot be content with the situation present in Armenia today. We should point out achievements made step by step in almost every area, but should never be complacent. We must create the Armenia where people are happy and don’t contemplate leaving the country; the Armenia which will attract our compatriots living in foreign lands, and they will proudly tell about strangers about Armenia on any proper occasion. Foreign policy challenges to compel us to take up as soon as possible the course which leads to advancement. Our common efforts must be channeled towards the resolution of that issue, our minds and knowledge must put to service to achieve that. Within the country, we have to ensure social solidarity. Social issues are linked closely to justice, and we must critically increase the pace of instituting justice in the social relations.
We must create a social milieu without privileged persons but with a nation which is united, which is disciplined and law abiding, peace loving and proud. Have we spoken of this before? Of course we have, on many occasions, and will continue to speak, a lot. Those who will come after us will speak of this, and those who will come after them. It doesn’t mean that there is no progress, of course there is, a fair glance will see a lot, but I repeat – we must critically increase the pace on this course.
We should not be limiting ourselves with the resolution of Armenia’s internal problems. Geopolitical changes compel us to unite the entire world-spread Armenian nation to ensure the secure existence of our people and our place in the world. From this point of view, it is mandatory that Armenia become a mature state in every sense of the word, and become an attractive and attracting, hope inspiring cradle of our united Armenian nation.
We have two main values – the Armenian nation and Armenia. They must be above any other value we have. All our steps, decisions and demeanor must emanate from these two values. Armenia’s interests and future call for it. It was entrusted to us by our forefathers. Demeanor of each and every one of us is measured by these values: if an act empowers our nation, inspires our people, it deserves commendation, if not, it deserves condemnation.
Considering the situation in the region, we simple have to have a strong, two feet on the ground, confident state in which everyone, if necessary, is ready to become a soldier of the Fatherland.
Constitutional changes are not just another changes imposed by this or that structure, or by a membership to this or that structure, or by the necessity to solve this or that personal issue. This act reflects on the challenges we are facing, on our political life, pressing issues of our reality and is called upon to solve them. I am confident that very soon the Constitution will become a document of national accord.
Inequality, injustice, impunity, disillusioned people, poverty, migration – these are challenges for any state, including the Republic of Armenia.
Our country doesn’t need officials who can justify failure of this or that program, our country needs officials who can deliver these programs, no matter what.
We need public servants who will consider any public problems ten times more important than his or her own personal well-being.
“We do what we can, we do as much as we canâ€
