12:19, 14 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday that ensuring external security remains the key challenge of his administration’s activity.
“The deepening geopolitical instability, the obvious uncertainties and tensions in the world order and international security are further escalating the external security threats of Armenia,” Pashinyan said at a press conference.
He said that in 2022 his administration was unable to completely focus on implementing its development agenda because of Azerbaijan’s attack and subsequent occupation of sovereign Armenian territories in September, the persisting threat of renewed aggression, the unresolved NK conflict, the Azerbaijani invasions into the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh, the illegal blockade of the Lachin Coridor, the gas and electricity supply interruptions in Nagorno Karabakh and the resulting humanitarian, energy and environmental crises.
However, he noted that 2022 was a year of major reforms. “The government adopted a policy of not deviating from the agenda of development of state institutions and the republic and reforms in conditions of security challenges. As a result, we had 12,6% economic growth – an unprecedented indicator in the last 15 years,” Pashinyan said.
The state budget’s tax revenues in 2022 totaled 1 trillion 926 billion AMD – 53% more compared to 2018.
PM Pashinyan said that the Armenian government continues to maintain a balanced foreign policy, and a foreign policy of balancing. “Nonetheless, the key issue remains unresolved – guaranteeing external security of Armenia. Our assessment is that there is no one-step solution to this issue. The solution of this issue requires a deep analysis of the international, regional, military-political, national situation and subsequent steps. The government has adopted this very policy and approach, realizing that the situation brings very serious threats and very serious possibilities for the country. Our objective, therefore, is to manage the threats and use the possibilities,” the PM said.
