news.am, Armenia
Nov 28 2009

Serzh Sargsyan: Armenia not behind curtain any longer

15:53 / 11/28/2009Armenia is not behind the curtain any longer, and
the international community has focused its attention on the Armenian
people, RA President and Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA) Serzh Sargsyan stated at the RPA’s 12th congress opened today.
`At present Armenia is not a small boat rocking in the waves of
international developments. Rather it is an independent entity
following its way, and it is not all that we wish for,’ the President
said. Serzh Sargsyan added that Armenia has a sufficient potential for
progress.

Speaking of the events that followed last year’s presidential
election, the Armenian said that Armenia would have been able to
oppose the subversive plot if it had had full-fledged mass media,
public and political institutions, strong civil society and highly
professional law-enforcement agencies. `Underdeveloped public and
political institutions, civil society and mass media provoke anger and
destabilize the situation in the country. To prevent recurrences, we
must make a tight fist,’ the President said.

Speaking of the RPA, he stressed that the party has a potential for
playing a leading role in implementing reforms in Armenia. `The RPA is
not taking any steps that run counter to its own programs, honoring
its pledges despite all the problems. The RPA is not changing its
positions every moment, which is standard practice on the political
scene. Our `yes’ is yes and our `no’ is no, and out partners can rely
on us. We are able to listen and accept proposals, we are flexible and
firm,’ stated Serzh Sargsyan. He stressed it is times for reforms
within the party, which will have its impact on society.

`The party’s democratization leads to that of the society. The RPA is
not a one-leader party. It is not Serzh Sargsyan’s party. Serzh
Sargsyan is just a member of this party,’ the President said. He
stressed that the RPA must turn into a public and political leader. He
stated that the party first discusses the most important problems,
which is the most serious test for them. `This concerns the
Armenian-Turkish protocols as well,’ the President said. Serzh
Sargsyan stressed that the RPA does not violate the principle of
plurality of opinions, which is often practiced by other political
forces. `This means that, being in power, the RPA will never pressure
its political opponents,’ stated President Serzh Sargsyan