Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Dear colleagues,
Honorable Guests,
Conference Participants:
I welcome you and express sincere satisfaction at your willingness to make a professional and civic contribution in order to address the socio-economic problems facing the country.
Today’s event is truly unique for both its coverage and agenda, and what matters most, for your readiness to engage in a constructive and unbiased dialogue.
Two different trends in assessing the activities of the Government, and in general, its economic policy, could be seen in society recently: firstly, pessimism, hopelessness, fostering and dissemination of negative sentiments and, secondly, we can see attempts to attribute the existing problems to global economic developments, the rise in oil prices and other external factors.
As for me, both approaches are equally unacceptable.
There is no record of economic recovery in the world made possible through whining and pessimism. Armenia cannot be an exception from this point of view. We have different ways to go, and the Government cannot afford to work with such people who are doing so at work, in the press and cafes all day long.
On the other hand, I feel it unacceptable to lay all the blame on others for our failures and attribute our shortcomings to global economic developments. Regional developments, oil and commodities prices, market volatility and other indicators are objective factors, but they can never be deemed as a means of justification.
I would like to send the following message to all interested and concerned individuals and parties, professional groups: my door is open to all reasonable proposals and programs. Any suggestion that may help our common cause will be appreciated. Armenia needs the joint effort of all the parties concerned.
I treat criticism - even very sharp criticism - with utmost seriousness and respect. I am ready to personally meet my critics in order discuss problems point by point, and if appropriate, make relevant corrections and adjustments to our programs.
As evidenced by the recent developments, public confidence is crucial to government policies and institutions. I see no better way to win the public’s trust than through openness and dialogue. Confrontation and ultimatums cannot buy trust.
The forum has brought together professionals who are well aware of Armenia’s current socio-economic situation and enjoy a strong resource of public trust in their respective areas of expertise and knowledge.
I am for a well-devised and consistent work and cannot see a better way to move forward, redress the situation and the economy. I shall work with all those who share this approach and have at least one project, a program and the willingness to cooperate regardless of their political credo.
The conference agenda is hectic and comprehensive. Today we have the opportunity to exchange ideas on key economic sectors and industries and the main engines of economic growth.
Very often the problem of economic growth goes beyond the scope of domestic capacity leaving no sufficient room for full realization of development opportunities, which makes it necessary to view the matter from different perspectives.
This is why apart from the macroeconomic aspect, the conference agenda features the presentation of a draft paper entitled Armenia’s sustainable economic development strategy: the path of innovative progress.
I am convinced that the imperative of economic modernization has the potential of mobilizing all capable forces around the idea. Our task is to turn this potential into an irreversible stream in order to build a prosperous and stable country with the firm determination of all of us.
This is just the path we have embraced in addressing the situation in energy sector. There are a lot of problems in this area, while solutions are not as simple as may seem.
The energy sector has regressed in recent years. The major public and small private producers have accumulated debts. The situation can become irreversible, if no remedy is found.
You may know that on June 17, 2015, the PSRC decided to raise the electricity tariff by 6.93 drams, which could not cause a tide of discontent in society.
This is a priority issue, and the Government is going to take unprecedented steps, involving media and best international experts in order to overcome the barrier of mistrust. However, the Government is not inclined to consider the involvement of the public only in the short term.
Together with our partners - the World Bank and the USAID - we have prepared a strategic energy system development program for 2016-2036, which soon will be submitted for discussion in the professional circles and the public at large.
I am confident that the broad involvement of civil society in these discussions will help increase the public confidence in the Government’s policy aimed at building a sustainable and reliable energy system.
Once again, I want to thank you for attending the conference and wish the forum a fruitful debate.
