Serzh Sargsyan: In case of effective work, Karen Karapetyan will become a peculiar symbol of reforms in Armenia

ArmInfo. Everyone in Armenia  sees the need for political reform that means implementation of a new  political culture, prevention of political persecutions against  political opponents, consolidation of political forces irrespective  of their political views for settlement of the pressing problems of  the country. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made such statement  at the meeting of the ruling Republican Party Board yesterday when  introducing the nominee for the post of the prime minister, the  deputy head for strategic development at Gazprom Mezhregiongaz,  Russia, Karen Karapetyan.  

President Sargsyan said political reforms are not connected with the  requirements of any international organizations. It is aspiration for  a stronger and prospering statehood. "Within these years, the  economic reforms have always been in the focus of the Government's  attention, while political reforms have certainly paled into  insignificance.

We believed that implementation of economic reforms will  automatically lead to political reforms. In the meanwhile, we have  understood long ago that without political reforms, economic  indicators will not be sufficient," the president said adding that  Constitutional reforms of 2015 were perceived in Armenia as political  measures pursuing personal interests of the authorities and not  settlement of the country's problems. "Many perceived our arguments  during campaign for the parliamentary system of government just as  propaganda," he said.

Serzh Sargsyan believes that implementation of the standards of the  new Constitution and political reforms has been delayed certainly due  to the April war in the Karabakh conflict zone and the July events  (seizure of the police compound). In his words, the authorities are  learning lessons from both the incidents. 

"However, we have neither right nor time to delay with this any  longer," the president said announcing drastic changes in the short  run. He said he was speaking first of all about such changes as staff  reshuffles in all the power branches: starting from the president's  administration up to the judiciary. "Today, we are speaking about the  government," the president said introducing Karen Karapetyan as the  nominee for the prime minister of Armenia. 

"We know the abilities and work style of Karen Karapetyan. He is able  to manage the wave of reforms that are expected in Armenia, to lead  the country towards political and economic freedoms, breaking  stereotypes. I am sure that in case of effective work, Karapetyan  will become a peculiar symbol of reforms of Armenia. I have talked to  him much about the future reforms and received the positive response  of a person ready to make those reforms. I saw confidence in him,  and, the most important, he believes that the tasks set are realistic  and accomplishable," the president said.

The president said that using the people's potential the new  government must restore the trust in the government, find  non-standard solutions for development of the country and  strengthening of its positions in the region. In his words, the new  government must work transparently and achieve such results that will  strengthen the bases of the free economic competition. "In these  issues, the new government will have a big freedom of actions,  consequently, a high level of responsibility for its steps. The pace  and efficiency is important. I am sure that it's going to be all  right,"  the president assured those present.  Serzh Sargsyan thanked  the leaving prime minister Hovik Abrahamyan for his work, for  managing to bring stability to economy and saving the country from  negative external challenges, ensuring such high economic indicators  that many countries could dream off. "The government did its utmost  to prepare the country for new reforms, it is a huge work and the  executive power has coped with it. However, Armenia needs a higher  economic growth and more stability," Sargsyan said adding that Hovik  Abrahamyan will have an important part in the parliamentary elections  of 2017.