ARMENIA’S INCOMING PRESIDENT PLEDGES FOUR-PARTY GOVERNMENT
by Natalia Leshchenko

World Markets
Global Insight
April 9, 2008

Armenian president-elect Serzh Sargsyan has pledged to form a
coalition government, encompassing members of all four political
parties currently in the parliament. In an interview with Russian
newspaperRossiiskaya Gazeta, Sargsyan set the future government
the goal of "winning, in the regional competitive struggle,
international recognition as a country providing the best conditions
for entrepreneurship and investments." He also pledged to work against
poverty and unemployment, as well as claiming that his government will
"guarantee freedom and equality, the supremacy of law and principles
of ensuring democracy." The formal transfer of power is to take place
next Tuesday, 15 April.

Significance:Sargsyan is working hard to dissipate the memories of
protests against his election that left at least eight people dead on
1 March 2008. Hence his pledges for respect to democracy and also the
idea of creating a coalition government; given that the opposition
is barely represented in parliament, the coalition would make only
a superficial image of unity rather than genuinely reaching out to
the government’s opponents. The goal of becoming a key investment
destination for the region is an ambitious one indeed, something that
would not be easy to achieve given World Bank recognition of Georgia
as a top reformer, and Azerbaijan’s staggering growth rates. The
government is evidently still shocked by the degree of public protest
it has faced, and it realises that economic improvement at least is
vital for avoiding popular discontent in future, and this realisation
bodes well for economic reforms in the country.
From: Baghdasarian