President Armen Sarkissian held a working meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian: I hope that Armenia will use its specificity and advantages to overcome difficulties

Today, President Armen Sarkissian held a regular working meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Armen Sarkissian and Nikol Pashinian discussed issues pertinent to the country’s current agenda, existing problems, and development programs.

President Armen Sarkissian noted in particular in his remarks, “Mr. Prime Minister, I am glad to hold this meeting with you. This is certainly not a traditional office meeting, but in step with the time, at the fresh air.

I believe, the tasks before us at the moment are very important. Together with other countries of the world, Armenia has been for months fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. Every day, I follow statistics and rejoice that the curve is moving downward, and I hope it will continue this way. I agree with your statements that we should not be complacent with this because major segments of the population have not encountered this virus yet, and if it happens, it will result in the return of the pandemic. In some countries it is called the second wave, in some place there can be even the third wave. I agree with you that the rules during the pandemic must be observed strictly – hygiene, social distancing, law and order.

Today’s economic difficulties are also related to the pandemic. The situation is the same all over the world, but it certainly doesn’t make the burden on our country, on our government any lighter. On the contrary: everyone’s bad situation indirectly affects Armenia’s economy, and will hit hard certain areas, particularly hotel services, tourism, jobs, and social issues. It is certainly a difficult moment, and the task is huge.

I wish you, and in your person, the government every success. I would like to repeat that as the President of Armenia, I am ready to assist in every possible way not only in the framework of the Constitution but also as an Armenian, with my abilities, connections, experience, and advice.

The recent incident in Tavush added to the existing problems. I was in Tavush several days ago, in Chinari village, on the border, and I can tell you that I was delighted with the people’s spirit. People are very confident, full of vigor and optimism, and these are not only the adult population of the village but also small children. I came back with a conviction that our citizens stand strong next to our troops, our Army.

Thus, on this too, Mr. Prime Minister, I express my support to the government, to you personally, to our Ministry of Defense, our Army, and I am ready to do everything.

I believe that these difficult times will become the beginning of the future rise, and the basis of that surge should be established today. I hope that Armenia will use its specificity and advantages to overcome difficulties, and we will register new achievements.

Fortitude to us all, to our people. Everyone should be in their place, disciplined, diligent and dedicated, and together we will overcome all difficulties.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said in his remarks particularly:

“Distinguished Mr. President, thank you. I am glad to have this meeting. Would like to mention that we have also had a distant meetings, discussions which, in the spirit of the times, have not been made public. Coronavirus is a great challenge for our country. In hindsight, what happened, what we registered in the end of April, despite strict restrictions, even though we were able to maintain them in visible places, was the pandemic processes that have been going on behind the scene – in backyards and entryways.

We registered two things: the restrictions do not translate into desired results, and second, in April we lost 70.000 jobs. A tense situation in the region too: despite the appeal of the UN Secretary General to establish a general ceasefire regime as long as the pandemic is ongoing, we witnessed the rise of Azerbaijan’s military rhetoric, and it was clear to me that the country could not meet the probable escalation in the, so called, sleepy state.

The government defined the main task in the following way: healthcare capabilities should develop to a degree when not a single citizen is left without medical assistance. I can say that the task was accomplished and very serious capabilities were put in force, considerable allocations were made from the state budget to purchase equipment, to put it to use, etc. As a result we had the following: in June 50.000 jobs were restored, and in July we registered the same number of jobs for the same period of time last year, even a little more. For me it is clear that should we had been guided by the medical logic only, we would face a social collapse.

Unfortunately, today because of the coronavirus pandemic we have a large number of victims and yes, you are right that currently the curve is moving downward but the number of daily deaths is not decreasing, has not come to zero yet, and it’s a consequence of the previous process. It is painful that we have over 800 death cases, if I am not mistaken. But today the reverse process is going on too: the hospitals are on standby; also there is no guarantee that these numbers will not go up again because of our individual behavior.

But today we have a chance in the fall to have a generally better situation. As we can see, there are countries in the world which have announced officially that they had overcome coronavirus but were forced to get back to the logic of the most severe restrictions.

Yes, you are right. We, in essence, have problems also in the economy and right now are trying to find sectorial solutions. The main problem is the following: to maintain and add jobs. This is, certainly, the initial goal but it also means to boost exports, to boost production, to boost spending. By the way, you are certainly aware that we have implemented more than 20 anti-crisis measures and in this framework through the banking system and state budget have invested over 100 billion AMD in different social and economic areas. This process is continued now in different areas. We try first to maintain jobs, and that sectors should uphold their competitiveness and recover quickly after the economic crisis is over.

What happened in Tavush? There is no doubt that it was Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia’s sovereign territory. But it is very important to note that military rhetoric, which has been developed by the leadership of Azerbaijan for many years, created a propagandistic myth that Azerbaijani armed forced had advantage over the Armenian Army and were able to solve any problem very quickly. During a very short and local incident that myth was totally blown up which, in my opinion, creates a totally new geopolitical and military situation in our region. Eventually, this will fortify, allow to put it this way, Armenia’s traditional position. That traditional position has been totally upheld by all authorities and governments of Armenia: the Karabakh issue has no military solution and must be solved exclusively through peaceful means. Thus, it is the reality which must be reckoned with.

The Armed Forces of Armenia are ready to preserve the territorial integrity of our country, our borders. I am happy to note that great reforms, which have been taking place for the last two and half years in the Armed Forces and which have been the priority among the priorities of our government, have yielded results. And I am also happy that no time was lost or wasted, and we were able to register concrete results.

For us, unfortunately, this has been a year full of difficulties, complications, and grave incidents. The blast in Beirut and events in Lebanon are undoubtedly linked directly to our national life, and on this we certainly have things to discuss.”

Responding to the remarks of the Prime Minister, President Sarkissian said, “I am glad to hear that our assessments coincide. I agree that even if tomorrow we have no more infected individuals, or deaths, we still need to be very careful and under no circumstance can we declare our country coronavirus free. The countries do not shut in and even if there are no domestic cases but someone infected arrives from abroad, the entire process will start again. I hope that even if there is a second wave, we will be able to defeat it because the experience is already there. There are economic areas for which the entire process will be taxing, and they will need assistance from the state and government. I am glad that the government is thinking about them and steps are taken toward that end. However, I believe that these steps will continue because a long time will be needed to overcome today’s difficult situation which is not only economic but also social. There are also problems related to jobs, and with this regard, demographic problems emerge. People, who have been working for years outside Armenia, currently don’t have that opportunity. People, who today, yesterday, the day before had a job, now don’t have it. Thus, we have to combine our forces to solve that problems.

I fully agree with you that Azerbaijan’s offensive has no human or moral justification. When the whole world and we are fighting against the common enemy – coronavirus, Azerbaijan decided to make a venturous step. For me, as a person, who has years-long experience and has been following policies of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Europe and Russia, there are some worrying factors.
First, the moral border, which they crossed by undertaking that adventurism in the time of coronavirus.

The second concern is that Azerbaijan is trying to create an impression that Armenia poses a threat to the international infrastructure running through the territory of Azerbaijan. This is total nonsense. This infrastructure has been in place for over 20 years, and Armenia has never had an intention to destroy it.

Their propaganda is aimed at one thing – to present Armenia as an aggressor, to create a chance to use that leitmotiv to make aggressive steps tomorrow. And again I would like to state proudly that our Armed Forces are at the highest level. I remember well, when I was the ambassador to a number of European countries, including NATO, many diplomats, military experts told me that our fight was in vein - you are a small country, with no army, Azerbaijan has a great army, receives assistance from the neighboring state. The same people, several years later told me that Armenia had the most powerful Army in the South Caucasus. I would like to remind once again that the recent events have proved that Armenia has the most powerful Army in the South Caucasus which is invincible. Army is not about weapons, discipline and readiness only, it is also about the spirit which no other army in this region has. I am happy that doubts of those people regarding the Armenian Army were put to rest.

Another my concern is related to the official statements coming from the state apparatus of Azerbaijan that Azerbaijan can strike the Metsamor nuclear plant. This is unacceptable by any international norm. I was a member to the Global Forum on Security and its Chairman. The Forum was treating statements like that as calls for nuclear terrorism. I trust that those, who make such statements, must understand very well that that great idiocy will bring a great tragedy for all, not only Armenia. The international community must in unequivocal terms make statements to stop such irresponsible statements. Bellicose statements by Turkey are also unacceptable. The Turks must remember that their state is the one which 105 years ago carried out the Mets Eghern. It means that any such statement is a direct call to go back 105 years which is unacceptable not only for our nation but for the human race in general. Times are tough. However, these days our people have proved once again, and first of all in Tavush, that we are standing firmly on our feet.

I would like to take this opportunity and say and on all these directions the President of the Republic and presidential institute, President’s friends are ready to support the government to overcome all difficulties.