The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Thursday, 20 December 2007

Dear colleagues - members of Prosperous Armenia Party,

First of all, let me thank you for support of my candidature at the presidential elections of the Republic of Armenia. It honors me for what I express my gratitude. Highly represented in the RA National Assembly, actively engaged in the work of the executive authority, having recommended itself well in public life, having a numerous army of party members and supporters, Prosperous Armenia Party is by right one of largest and influential political forces in our country and having the political support of such a force at presidential elections would indeed honor any politician.

Quite a new political situation and good bases for joint fruitful work were established following the May parliamentary elections in our country. A vivid example thereof is the interaction between the Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia Party. An example which once again testifies that destructive approaches have no future and the unity, tolerance, creative work are the right path to the realization of all our programs.

Our strategic goal should be the construction of such an Armenia as would unite all Armenians by preserving and building on our national traditions and making use of the best of mankind's achievements.

An atmosphere of mutual respect, love and tolerance should reign in this Armenia to which we aspire.



The Armenia to which we aspire should be recognized as a country providing better conditions for doing business and making investment in a competitive environment. Our future is the knowledge-based society.

Safe, dignified life and the opportunity of self-expression for each citizen of our country should be provided in the Armenia to which we aspire.

The Armenia to which we aspire should become a strong democratic State with effective control systems.

Dear compatriots,

Our country has ushered into an era when current achievements oblige us to mobilize all our forces and work with a maximum effectiveness and goal-orientation.

Indeed, we are proud of our achievements and we do care for preservation thereof.

First of all, we are proud of the economic stability.



We are proud of our growing economy.

We are proud of the ever-growing possibilities of our State: those problems which seemed to be unsolvable yesterday, are being addressed today, the State budget has sufficient resources for the implementation of such programs as might seem fantastic quite recently.

Today we look upon the problems facing our villages and towns with much more confidence, because we know that the rapidly growing economy is sure to create new opportunities for their decision.

Also, we are proud of the favorable assessment received from key international organizations.

But it is not enough of it. The current situation might seem a dream only a decade ago, but today it does not satisfy us. Many changes have occurred today and we ourselves have changed today.

The traditional values as for the perception of morality and humanism, the good and the bad have basically remained as such in our society, and thank God for it.

But life and reality have changed.

The needs of people, as well as the opportunities and requirements of choice have changed.

People's expectations, ambitions and hopes are much higher today.



The expectations from the State, too, have changed nowadays.



Therefore, our way is a single one, namely: to rally around our values, to be proud of our achievements and to be confident in the future. This is the way ahead for Armenia.

Armenia should improve day after day. All of us should constantly remember this and abide by this very logic:



The logic of better Armenia,

safer Armenia,



prosperous Armenia,



powerful Armenia,

an Armenia where everyone can realize its possibilities instead of going abroad in search of a better life.



where people are employed and earn enough,

where any child is entitled to having high quality education and the elderly -to receiving such pensions as may ensure a dignified life.

A better Armenia for each citizen of the Republic Armenia: Armenians, Russians, Yezids, Kurds, Jews, Assyrians, Greeks, Ukrainians, Georgians and representatives of other ethnic minorities.

Armenia for men and women.

A better Armenia for children, employed people, those wishing to work, farmers, creative workers, defenders of homeland, the elderly and the invalids.

A better Armenia for those of our sons who wish to come home from abroad.

A better Armenia for the expectations of all Armenians.



Of course, it would be impossible for everyone to be equally "successful" in our society, however, everyone should be given equal opportunities and the number of those people considering themselves as "successful" should prevail in our society.

We should move steadily closer to our vision of "strong and powerful State."The government should be efficient and the country -competitive in all spheres. We should be competitive in all respects- human and public at the level of the whole country.



There is no alternative to the foregoing.

These are not mere slogans. This is our response to quickly changing realities.



Dear friends,

Today we have an excellent opportunity for being faced with an unprecedented situation after the presidential elections which will be free of senseless political conflicts and tensions, will provide harmonious and effective cooperation of legislative and executive authorities for the sake of realization of those objectives to which our ancestors have aspired for centuries.

The upcoming presidential elections are crucial from the point of view of further development of our country. The latest parliamentary elections were considered by many to be a surprise, a pleasant surprise. The high standard of the forthcoming presidential elections shall change this perception to evidence that this was not an exception, but a rule. We are the ones to be interested therein most of all: both as people deeply concerned about the future of our country and as the supporters of the candidate having the biggest rating.

I wish all of us every success in our future efforts. Let there be an atmosphere of kindness and tolerance throughout all our undertakings.

Thank you and onward to new Armenia, to a prosperous Armenia.