Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Tavush Marz continues. The Head of Government had meetings with residents of Idjevan, Haghartsin and Dilijan, presented his government’s steps in sectors and answered a number of questions.

The Premier noted that henceforth the role of an Armenian citizen will be decisive in the economic development of our country. “I am sure that henceforth the citizens will not put up with defeats, illegalities, will eye the future with optimism and will not act as petitioners. The citizen of the Republic of Armenia will be a plaintiff but not vulnerable; they will work harder to create goods.

One of the most important priorities of our government is to overcome poverty, which is a problem that our country is spoiling for a long time. What should we do to curb poverty? I came to this conclusion and thought that this phenomenon could be conditionally called the “Aygehovit syndrome.” What do I mean? Yesterday, as we went to Aighehovit and talked to the locals, it turned out to be such a situation. First of all, people talked about jobs, but it turned out that the owner of the bakery was looking for two workers with a salary of 100,000 drams and could not find them. This situation, I think, reveals one of the deepest issues in our country. People say if we get a job, we will be deprived of social benefits,” Nikol Pashinyan said. According to him, this phenomenon is a result of a long-term policy, when poverty and benefits used to be more preferable than work and earnings.

“The point is that we had a government in Armenia that wanted people to be poor in order the buy their votes during elections. Today’s government will not help people to be poor, on the contrary, we will help them get richer; we will encourage people to work because the Armenians are not lazy beggars, they are hard-working people,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Nikol Pashinyan said that changes had occurred as a result of work in our country, since there were people who wanted to make an effort in order to achieve the ultimate goal of the nation. “I want to send this message to all the citizens of Armenia. The poverty-conducive policy should be banned in Armenia; we need to encourage work, create opportunities so that people could overcome their poverty and despair,” the Prime Minister said. According to him, the change of reality is an important mission of the Government of Armenia, but it is first necessary to change the perception of reality.

“How can the reality be changed: with the efforts of individuals? All of you know that Yenokavan village has traditionally been one of the smallest, most vulnerable infrastructural villages in Idjevan region. But with the help of a person or group of people, Yenokavan has become one of the fastest growing settlements in the region where the population is growing, and the cost of housing is up. I mean what is happening here is first of all due to people’s work.

We must change in our perceptions: we should not be jealous of others’ success, but be inspired and encouraged. I want to encourage you to work ever harder; each of us should think of what he can do to improve his or her family’s welfare. The government should support those who are thinking of developing more and more jobs. This is our understanding of the economic development,” Nikol Pashinyan said, adding that the State should provide the working man with as many resources as possible, including roads, drinking water, irrigation water, efficient electricity tariffs, reducing water losses and so on.

“This policy should be further promoted so that hopefulness grows. We need to encourage people not to seek poverty benefits, but prosperity and wealth. Our heroes should be those who earn the result of their sweat without a monopoly and create jobs. Our message is as follows: the Government will provide the necessary conditions for people to get richer and enrich our country; we want all our citizens to be wealthy and prosperous. Our government’s mission and my own commitment are as follows: not to enrich ourselves, but to help people get richer. We will not rob our country, but we will not succeed if you fail to catch the robbers. No one should be welcome in Armenia who steals from the people,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

Nikol Pashinyan also participated in the celebration dedicated to Haghartsin’s 200th anniversary. The Prime Minister congratulated the Haghartsin residents on the jubilee and expressed the hope that it would open up a new chapter in Haghartsin’s public life just as a new page was turned Armenia’s history in 2018.

“In New Armenia, we must perceive each other in a new way, we must perceive new opportunities, believe in our new strengths. We must strive for new victories after each victory. It is time to show that without cutting a forest you can get more profits. I am urging you to turn off the saws and connect your mind, creativity ideas and work toward new opportunities. Haghartsin should become a pioneer in the new Armenia,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister advised that a new USD 140,000-worth grant project will be implemented in Haghartsin, which will support those the citizens who will submit realistic and innovative business plans, including on tourism and environmental issues.

The community head was told to get in touch with Haghartsin residents abroad and invite them to invest in their native village with a view to creating new jobs and earn money.

Nikol Pashinyan next met with community heads from Idjevan and Dilijan regions and discussed with them development prospects and opportunities. Reference was also made to the enlargement of communities, infrastructure development, road construction, transport and logistics. Dilijan National Park and environmental protection issues were discussed. Nikol Pashinyan underscored that the Government will show special attitude towards those communities that will present employment-enhancing programs.