President Serzh Sargsyan convened a meeting of the National Security Council

05 / 06 / 2013

Today President of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of the National Security Council Serzh Sargsyan convened a meeting of the National Security Council.

The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the RA Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, Vice Prime Minister of the RA Armen Gevorgyan, Secretary of the National Security Council of the RA Artur Baghdasaryan, Chief of Staff of the RA President Vigen Sargsyan, Director of the National Security Service of the RA Gorik Hakobyan, Head of the RA Police Vladimir Gasparyan, Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov.

Within the framework of the agenda issues of the energy security and institutional strengthening of the local self-government of the Republic of Armenia were discussed.


Opening Speech by President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting of the National Security Council

Hello,
Dear colleagues, at today's meeting we will discuss issues of the energy security and institutional strengthening of the local self-government in our country. Important questions. We will continue to find solutions in each area that will stimulate the entire state-building process and contribute to the creation of a smoothly operating unified system.

There are many difficulties in Armenia today. No one disputes it. But the truth is the fact that the trend of the economic development in Armenia is promising. In 2012 economic growth in our country was 7.2%. Such a high level of economic activity persists in 2013. And it takes place in a low inflation environment. And this take place in conditions of low and controlled inflation.

Yes, the economic growth rates of Armenia in 2012 exceeded the growth rates of all neighboring countries. Compared with a number of resource-rich countries, including our neighbors, economic transformation and diversification of the economy in Armenia yield real results. As a result, in 2012 Armenia among the 188 countries of the world ranked 23rd in ensuring the greatest economic growth.

This allowed, finally, to restore the pre-crisis condition. At the same time due to the growth in all major sectors of the economy. The level of the pre-crisis output and income has been possible to ensure in conditions of almost half of the lower output of the previously dominant branch - construction. That is to say, the growth and development of the other sectors of the economy during this period compensated and exceeded the reduction in the construction sector, promoting new areas and types of production and services, and leading the economy to a healthier structure. And this is in conditions when state revenues have almost doubled. These facts are undeniable and are recorded not only by us. However, this does not mean that we should be satisfied or even contented. Of course not.

We must reform every area of our economy, both in form and in content. We are building a new economy. Gradually, instead of dealing with the consequences of hail we must begin to create anti-hail nets on the spot, instead of subsidizing irrigation, we must create drip irrigation systems right on the spot, start projects leading entire areas forward, for example, from the production of necessary devices for quick and cheap assembly of greenhouses to the assembly of solar panels. And so all the time. We should be able to encourage such projects, what we have undertaken.

After 3-4 years the situation in the region will be changed completely. We must be prepared for this. The experts expect the inevitable Azerbaijani fiasco in two or three years. Moving by the rules of classic despotism, the authorities of this country are engaged only in instilling an image of the Armenian enemy to their own people, spreading smelly ideas about us. At that time, it was in Azerbaijan that the laid socio-political and economic mines threatened to explode, and explode very quickly and, perhaps, at the same time. With the chronic decline in oil and gas production, the authorities of the neighboring country continue to spend the accumulated funds in a way that even their opponents could not plan. Only momentary feasts - such is the logic of the policy implemented. The amounts received with insane speed are spent in disposable directions - to ensure the visibility of the gigantic construction program, funding social programs that will be forced to cut tomorrow, scattering billions in various parts of the world in the name of standing ovation for one evening. Things that make everything clear for those who calculate two steps ahead.

On the other hand, there are consequences of overt despotism or despotic regime. The arrests of opponents, almost complete ignorance of the existence of a free press, coercion, monstrous corruption with double force will remind of themselves in parallel with the reduction of oil dollars in this country. I do not think anyone doubts it. If two years ago Azerbaijani youth were afraid and silent, today, although in small groups, they already discuss that the time will soon come to speak. And tomorrow is very close. Tomorrow, when social networks in this country will be proclaimed an enemy of the people. Why do I touch this topic, because the authorities of this country, instead of dealing with their own problems, problems of well-being of their own people, building their society, as if they want to console us, as if trying to teach us to the mind, as I said, spreading offensive ideas about us.

We must continue to modernize and diversify our economy in order to obtain more favorable conditions in the new regional relocations expected in a few years. And we are on a path that cannot be stopped even for a second. We must not delay.