Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today had a working meeting with President Armen Sarkissian at the Presidential Palace.

Emphasizing the importance of traditional, regular meetings, Armen Sarkissian and Nikol Pashinyan discussed issues related to the current agenda of our country.

President Armen Sarkissian: “Mr. Prime Minister, I am pleased to host you today. It seems to be our tradition to hold regular meetings in order to discuss the latest developments at home and abroad, as well as to share views about our visits, meetings, achievements and emerging challenges. So, I welcome you once again to the residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: “Thank you, Mr. President, I am glad to see you. This is, in fact, our first working meeting in 2020, and I am pleased to note that 2019 was a successful year for the Republic of Armenia. The indicators of economic activity for 2019 have already been published, and I can state that last year we had the highest index of economic activity ever since 2011 when the new assessment methodology was adopted un Armenia.

I would also like to point out that in 2019 we recorded a transition period after the revolution. Our discussions have focused on the need to implement institutional reforms in our country in order to formulate the logic of strategic management. I believe that we are just entering such a stage in 2020, and we will continue to keep in the spotlight the development of a system of checks and balances while implementing institutional reforms.

You have responded to the situation around the Constitutional Court, or the crisis, to put it otherwise, and I hope that today we will exchange views about this issue.

Of course, I definitely share your view that we should approach this issue from the perspective of institutional development, with the logic of our country’s national and state interests, with the logic of having an accurate and working system of checks and balances, since this is the only way to irreversible democracy, rule of law, and indeed to an irreversible constitutional reality that has always been in the focus of our discussions. So, I am happy about this opportunity.”

President Armen Sarkissian: “Very well, I am ready for discussion. I will listen carefully to you, Mr. Prime Minister. What you said about the establishment of well-balanced institutions is very important, because sustainable development cannot be achieved without it. Of course, it is also worth discussing our future investment plans. I am pleased to advise you that I seem to have had some small victories during my overseas trips, be it the Persian Gulf, Davos or Israel. I will share them with you.”

During the interview, Nikol Pashinyan and Armen Sarkissian discussed issues related to the country’s current agenda and development programs.