SERGE SARGSYAN SUMMED UP FIRST YEAR OF HIS OFFICE

16:21:38 – 10/04/2009
LRAGIR.AM

On April 10, Serge Sargsyan summed his work done in one year of his
office. During the press conference which lasted for 160 minutes, 60
questions were asked. The Haykakan Zhamanak, The Hayq, The Zhamanak,
and The Chorrord Ishkhanutyun were not invited to the conference
again.

`I think that the most important thing in this one year is that we
managed to deepen our relations with our friends and partners. During
this year, we managed to launch and have considerable progress in the
negotiations with Turkey. We managed to make the talks for the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue more effective. We managed to set up serious
infrastructural programs the implementation of which will change the
role of our region and our role in the region. I think that during
this year we managed to introduce some new elements in our home
policies. I mean the enhancement of the role of the Security Council,
our regular consultations with the political forces and the setup of
the Public Council,’ said Serge Sargsyan in answer to the question to
sum up his work.

Serge Sargsyan was asked questions on the financial and economic
crisis, in answer to which he said that he evaluates positively the
work of the government in this connection. `We must welcome the
transparency of our prime minister’s activities; we have to welcome
his determination and the confidence of the government in the
future. I am happy that we were able to set up a political alliance
before the crisis, we managed to set up a coalition and to make a
right selection of the staff,’ said Serge Sargsyan. According to him,
the problem of the government is to do everything possible not to let
our people suffer more than the others.

The reporters asked whether the financial crisis will make them revise
the ambitious programs such as the Iran-Armenia railway, the
construction of a new nuclear plant, the north-south highway. Serge
Sargsyan answered that the crisis forces them to make more effort for
the accomplishment of these plans: `Because these programs contain
very serious anti-crisis resources. These programs contain a wide
package of solutions of social problems,’ said Serge Sargsyan, stating
that the programs are unprecedented and that they will have something
to tell the public in this connection in April. Serge Sargsyan also
answered the questions on the so-called tax holyday saying that he
dislikes that idea.

`Those who express such ideas are distorting their mind a little for
us not to understand what they mean, and they say the following: `As
we are in crisis, let us not collect taxes. And if we do not pay taxes
what are we supposed to live on,’ said Serge Sargsyan. According to
him, those who make such pronouncements have problems with the tax and
customs services, and dislike the efforts of the government to
maintain order in taxation.

As to the impact of the crisis on the accomplishment of his electoral
program, Serge Sargsyan said that there may be temporary changes but
the general 5-year plan will remain valid.

`I, of course, could not have predicted this global crisis but the
crisis is not a reason to give up the plans. My electoral program is
designed for 5 years and I’m sure we will be able to realize the whole
program together with our team,’ Serge Sargsyan said.