President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on appointing Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. The President and the Prime Minister of Armenia held a meeting at the Presidential Palace.

President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian - Mr. Prime Minister, now I have another opportunity to congratulate you in your capacity of a political party and national movement leader on your victory in the parliamentary elections. Also, I want to congratulate you on the first session of the National Assembly of 7th convocation.

Our parliament has a lot to do: things are very clear at this stage. The parliament should do everything to ensure that the velvet revolution’s ideas, hopes and expectations may take effect today, tomorrow and the next day.

I have received the National Assembly’s recommendation, based on which I am pleased to sign a decree to appoint you Prime Minister. Mr. Prime Minister, please accept my congratulations. I wish you every success for the sake of our Homeland and the Armenian nation.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan - Dear Mr. President, I am grateful to you. You have clearly formulated the framework in which we should proceed and act. I want to underline that the anticipated key political change has already taken place in the Republic of Armenia: our people has full control of the government and the political power, and democracy is established in Armenia.

Another problem is that democracy should be strengthened through institutional guarantees, which means that democracy, the rule of law and universal access to economic activity need to be guaranteed by democratic, state and political institutions rather than by political circumstances or personal considerations.

Significant changes have taken place in the economic life. In fact, there are no longer monopolies in the economy at the level of political will and reality, but we also need institutional guarantees. And I consider it very important to note that the changes we anticipate cannot take place without the citizens’ active participation, which was behind the recent political changes. Just as the political, non-violent revolution took place in Armenia with the participation of millions of our citizens and compatriots from the Diaspora, I imagine the economic revolution with the same formula, provided that the government should comply with all of its commitments assumed before the people. In this respect, I attach great importance to the cooperation of our state institutions. In fact, we deal with a new situation, and I attach great importance to the cooperation between the President, the Prime Minister, the Government and the National Assembly.

It should be noted that we gained some experience over the past eight months, but we are dealing with quite a new situation; there is a new institutional relationship, and we should be able to create such traditions that will ensure clear separation of power, democracy, the rule of law and, of course, an adequate system of checks and balances. I want to say that we all, myself, our political power are devoted to that vision and to that idea. Democracy, the rule of law and transparency are not slogans for us, but a system of values by which we are guided.

All this should be done in a way that would ensure that the level of state governance is not lowered on the one hand, while management efficiency, accountability and transparency would not suffer, on the other hand. And, of course, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia should be confident that no one will ever take away their right to form a government, and will not even try to do so, even if such an attempt is made, will definitely fail.

Thank you for your good wishes. Also, I want to thank the majority of the National Assembly for nominating me as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. I am convinced that we all are dedicated to building a free and happy future for our country and people.

Thank you.

President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian - Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. I want to reiterate that first of all I am glad to hear your remarks. I am convinced that they are not mere words: words which you believe and are dedicated to. That is to say, in a sense, this is your mission.

These words make me happy because, after all, we are here to make this country one of the best countries in the world that our citizens should be truly proud of. Not only should they be proud on a sentimental note, but actually they should be proud because they are going to live in a country where the rule of law prevails, where the country is governed by laws and by the Constitution, not by someone’s whims; a country, where their rights are both respected and protected.

All our citizens have the right to live in a prosperous country where every one of them will be confident of the future of their children and grandchildren.

I wish you good luck, every success - to the Government and the National Assembly because they have a lot to do.

When we talked about the fourth republic, it seemed a symbolic word game. But in essence, it is meaningful in a sense that not only do we have a new political situation, but also a new structure of state governance. And as you mentioned, the responsibilities of different authorities and their rights should be re-formulated.

It is crucial for all branches of power - Presidency, Government, National Assembly, and why not, the fourth power - to cooperate for a single purpose, for our country.

Therefore, I congratulate you once again and wish you every success. Your success is the success of our country, our people, and my own success.