We Must Plan, Sketch and Build the Armenia of Tomorrow Starting Today: Pashinyan

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Independence Day: "Dear people, proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia, proud citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, proud Armenian diaspora. I congratulate us all on the occasion of Armenia's Independence Day. 29 years ago, on this day, our people unanimously affirmed the independence of Armenia through a referendum. The referendum of September 21, 1991, is one of the most significant events in our nation's history, the beginning of which was laid back in 1988 with the Artsakh movement.

The results of the referendum announced to the entire world the free will of the Armenian people to have an independent and democratic state. Over the past 29 years, we have faced numerous tribulations together — war, socio-economic difficulties, emigration, falsified elections, the October 27 tragedy, political repression, March 1 events, crises, and despair. However, all these difficulties could not break the Armenian people.

The non-violent, Velvet, popular revolution of 2018 became an eloquent expression of state optimism and civic determination, proving that the desire of the Armenian people to have a sovereign, free, strong, and happy state is stronger than ever. A sovereign and free state, the eternal nature of that state, is at the core of the Armenian people's national agenda. Therefore, we must concentrate all our forces on the daily servicing of this agenda.

Dear compatriots, today I will announce the strategy for the transformation of Armenia by 2050, which is not a stiff document but rather our visions, goals, and pathways to achieve those goals concerning the Republic of Armenia in 2050, mechanisms for discussing, refining, deciding on implementation, and controlling the implementation process. I believe that with this, we are entering a new phase of our state life, where the state is governed with strategic logic, where every decision made today has not only current implications but also strategic targets and goals for 10, 20, and 30 years.

This is a mechanism that should make discussions about the future, planning for the future, and building the future an inseparable part of our daily work. In 1991, we did not know what Armenia would look like in 2020, and due to numerous objective and subjective circumstances, we did not allow time to formulate our visions regarding today and make their realization a daily activity.

But time inevitably confronts us with such a problem. We cannot wait for 2050 or 2100 to see what Armenia has become. We must plan that Armenia, sketch it, and build it starting today. Hence, amidst the various and diverse issues of the day, sometimes disheartening and confusing, we must prioritize those that connect us to Armenia in 2050 and 2100.

The citizens of the Republic of Armenia, celebrating the centenary of independence, must see that we have thought not only of ourselves but of them as well; they must feel our concern and responsibility for the future of Armenia, that is, for their present, and must see the dreams of that day realized in our aspirations today.

I am convinced that we possess enough will, skill, unity, and wisdom to fill our daily agenda with such work and ensure unshakeable institutional conditions for the eternity of Armenia and the Armenian people. This is the key mission of our generation, and we will accomplish that mission together.

And thus, Long live freedom, Long live the Republic of Armenia, Long live us and our children, who live and will live in a Free and Happy Armenia!"