Armen Sargsyan: Most valuable for me is communication with a common  citizen, his opinion is most important

ArmInfo. Candidate for the presidency of Armenia from the Republican Party Armen Sargsyan today began his pre-election speech in the National Assembly with condolences to the family and friends of March 1, 2008 events.

Further, Sargsyab admitted that it is his great honor and great  responsibility to run for the presidency of Armenia. He thanked all  the echelons of power, the public and scientific circles for the  trust. "But most important for me is communication with ordinary  citizens, peasants. No information, no communication cannot replace  contacts with ordinary people, their opinion is more important and  more valuable," Sargsyan assured.

In his opinion, Armenia has recorded many successes over the years,  there have been omissions. The main achievement was the victory in  the Artsakh war, which returned the national dignity to the Armenian  people. Another achievement, he said, are the Armenian armed forces,  which are not inferior to the armed forces of many developed  countries with a huge budget. Among the shortcomings, he called  social polarization and a high level of poverty.

"It is time to start real reforms in the socio-political and economic  life of the country to address urgent problems and pressing issues.  The logic of these reforms should be the constitutional principle - a  person is the highest value." It is necessary to increase people's  trust in the judicial system by eradicating corruption, creating an  atmosphere of trust. To solve social problems, it is necessary to  intensify cooperation between the private sector and the state,  involving various social strata in this process. It is necessary to  increase the accountability and responsibility of the state to  citizens. To achieve these goals, national consolidation is  necessary. Meanwhile, barricades between various social strata and  representatives of the Diaspora have been erected over the years, all  this is inadmissible for the long-suffering Armenian people. Even the  fight against many negative phenomena - such as corruption,  protectionism, bribery should not split the society, "Sargsyan said.

He stressed that corruption destroys the foundations of justice in  the country, makes civil law a subject of bargaining. "The fight  against this evil must be carried out especially harshly and  consistently: a citizen must always be a demander, constantly show an  active position not only on social issues or during elections, but  always in all manifestations of public life," the candidate said.  According to him, one of the pressing problems is the establishment  of an atmosphere of social justice in the country. "This is the duty  of each of us," he stressed.

Further, Sargsyan focused on the issues of activating ties between  the Motherland, the Diaspora, urban downshifting  and the even  development of the country's regions.  Speaking about investment  policy, Sargsyan noted that Armenia should take a special approach  here. "If investments are attracted in other countries taking into  account natural resources and stability, in Armenia the emphasis  should be on creating an atmosphere of justice and trust, eradicating  corruption, developing the environmental industry," the candidate  said, stressing that in the 21st century Armenia opens special  prospects given that the future is behind the intellectual  achievements.

As for education, the candidate suggested taking the best from the  experience of the Soviet system, which, by his definition, was very  good, and the achievements of the times of independence and create a  new system.

"If I am elected president, my many years of experience and potential  will serve the development of Armenia and Artsakh," Sargsyan  promised, assuring that he would adhere exclusively to the provisions  of the Constitution. "I will not only be president, but first and  foremost an exemplary citizen of Armenia, I will be not only the  president of Armenia and the Diaspora, but also the envoy of  Artsakh," Sargsyan said.