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Press releases
16
03, 2011
President Sargsyan invited a working meeting to discuss issues related to the social and economic situation in the marzes
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan invited a working meeting to discuss issues related to the social and economic situation in the marzes, problems related to the implementation of development programs, summarized works conducted in 2010, and spoke about programs for 2011 and their efficient implementation. The meeting was attended by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorkian and heads of the regions.
Before the Vice Prime Minister gave his report on the activities conducted by territorial and local administration bodies and programs for 2011, the President of Armenia presented his observations regarding issues of the agenda and gave tasks. “It is no secret that the bulk of the problems existing in our country – poverty, social problems and challenges conditioned by them – persist particularly in the regions. It is also in the regions that people are more depressed, often feel abandoned and as a result the entire atmosphere is pessimistic. Sense of injustice that people feel on different occasions, builds an impenetrable wall of helplessness; running into that wall, people become very irritable and emotional. That’s very sad. The existing situation can be justified by many factors: for instance, by the factors common for all developing countries, or geopolitical realities, and, finally, by the impact of the global financial and economic crisis. However, to search for the reasons of people's troubles means to relieve the authorities from any responsibility. It's a wrong approach. First of all, people need to be heard, to be understood. This is the only way to mitigate the situation. So far, the humanity has not invented any other way to do it. And I am confident that you know it too: people can cope with the difficulties and discontent is not always too wide. Discontent is huge when people are denied equal opportunities to be heard. This must be your main task,” said President Sargsyan.
The President of Armenia noted that in his understanding the head of regional administration is not just a boss: he must be the leader for the population, one who shares their troubles, one who presents their problems in the state structures, one who establishes in the regional an atmosphere of justice, and, of course, one who contains local chieftains.
“When I talk about local chieftains, I also mean that neither one of you should become a local chieftain. Such attitude is unacceptable. And you should serve an example. You and us – we are servants of the people. And we must do our work very well especially now, when existing difficulties are augmented by new ones, linked to the inflation, complex developments in the global economy. If we were to leave our farmers, our entrepreneurs on their own, it would be an unpardonable mistake, because now we have all opportunities to make this year a breakthrough for our economy and, certainly, for our agriculture. I underline agriculture because activities in the regions are related to this particular field, also because we already have multiple programs for this area. This year, the existing programs will be supplemented by others and more programs will follow. People should know about these programs and make use of them. Day before yesterday I met with the Head of the Central Bank. After our discussions, the Bank proposes new instruments such small interest loans, where part of the interest to be paid and subsidized by the state,” noted the President of Armenia.
President Sargsyan underscored that additional funds have been allocated this year to the marzes to solve part of the existing problems. It is expected that the works will be conducted in time and on a due level, and the contractors will be responsible for the spending and the quality of the works. “If we are convinced that the program is a success, as it was in 2007, I want to assure you that another program like that will be implemented in the end of the year and the program will be the largest of its kind. We will not allow anyone to get resources from our tight budget and just waste them.
Even development of Armenia’s regions is not just a catchword; at least for me, it’s not a catchword. Even development is of strategic importance for our country. When we say regions, we first of all mean people, who not just subsist and survive on that land, in the villages and towns, but people who live and prosper. We should keep in mind a very important thing: region is a place where people live well on their land; if people do not live well, there is no region.
So let’s do it this way: we work calmly but without delay. We will work quietly but straining every nerve. It’s not out of place to repeat that no excuses will be accepted for the flawed programs. People are not interested in the excuses, people are interested in the results, particularly, I am interested in the results. We will of course hold regular meetings. Another such meeting will be held late autumn and at the time we will see weather the programs have been implemented, have been successful or where we have failed and why,” said the President of Armenia.
Before the Vice Prime Minister gave his report on the activities conducted by territorial and local administration bodies and programs for 2011, the President of Armenia presented his observations regarding issues of the agenda and gave tasks. “It is no secret that the bulk of the problems existing in our country – poverty, social problems and challenges conditioned by them – persist particularly in the regions. It is also in the regions that people are more depressed, often feel abandoned and as a result the entire atmosphere is pessimistic. Sense of injustice that people feel on different occasions, builds an impenetrable wall of helplessness; running into that wall, people become very irritable and emotional. That’s very sad. The existing situation can be justified by many factors: for instance, by the factors common for all developing countries, or geopolitical realities, and, finally, by the impact of the global financial and economic crisis. However, to search for the reasons of people's troubles means to relieve the authorities from any responsibility. It's a wrong approach. First of all, people need to be heard, to be understood. This is the only way to mitigate the situation. So far, the humanity has not invented any other way to do it. And I am confident that you know it too: people can cope with the difficulties and discontent is not always too wide. Discontent is huge when people are denied equal opportunities to be heard. This must be your main task,” said President Sargsyan.
The President of Armenia noted that in his understanding the head of regional administration is not just a boss: he must be the leader for the population, one who shares their troubles, one who presents their problems in the state structures, one who establishes in the regional an atmosphere of justice, and, of course, one who contains local chieftains.
“When I talk about local chieftains, I also mean that neither one of you should become a local chieftain. Such attitude is unacceptable. And you should serve an example. You and us – we are servants of the people. And we must do our work very well especially now, when existing difficulties are augmented by new ones, linked to the inflation, complex developments in the global economy. If we were to leave our farmers, our entrepreneurs on their own, it would be an unpardonable mistake, because now we have all opportunities to make this year a breakthrough for our economy and, certainly, for our agriculture. I underline agriculture because activities in the regions are related to this particular field, also because we already have multiple programs for this area. This year, the existing programs will be supplemented by others and more programs will follow. People should know about these programs and make use of them. Day before yesterday I met with the Head of the Central Bank. After our discussions, the Bank proposes new instruments such small interest loans, where part of the interest to be paid and subsidized by the state,” noted the President of Armenia.
President Sargsyan underscored that additional funds have been allocated this year to the marzes to solve part of the existing problems. It is expected that the works will be conducted in time and on a due level, and the contractors will be responsible for the spending and the quality of the works. “If we are convinced that the program is a success, as it was in 2007, I want to assure you that another program like that will be implemented in the end of the year and the program will be the largest of its kind. We will not allow anyone to get resources from our tight budget and just waste them.
Even development of Armenia’s regions is not just a catchword; at least for me, it’s not a catchword. Even development is of strategic importance for our country. When we say regions, we first of all mean people, who not just subsist and survive on that land, in the villages and towns, but people who live and prosper. We should keep in mind a very important thing: region is a place where people live well on their land; if people do not live well, there is no region.
So let’s do it this way: we work calmly but without delay. We will work quietly but straining every nerve. It’s not out of place to repeat that no excuses will be accepted for the flawed programs. People are not interested in the excuses, people are interested in the results, particularly, I am interested in the results. We will of course hold regular meetings. Another such meeting will be held late autumn and at the time we will see weather the programs have been implemented, have been successful or where we have failed and why,” said the President of Armenia.