Armenia Faces Difficult Challenges, Says Pashinyan

During the government meeting today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered his message regarding the budget draft. He stated that Armenia is currently facing difficult challenges. “The economic, social, and security consequences and challenges of the pandemic and the 44-day war have not yet been overcome. The political crisis was overcome through the parliamentary elections in 2021, creating rather solid foundations for national unity and the Armenian people's aspirations towards the future,” he said.

Pashinyan emphasized that first and foremost, they prioritize increasing the efficiency of the public administration system and transforming and developing the work culture. “The government intends to continue its investment-encouraging policy by employing three main tools: the transparency of the public procurement system, increasing the volumes of lots put to competition, and legislative innovations aimed at simplifying relations with reliable companies,” he noted.

Pashinyan remarked that Armenian citizens should feel the impact of government actions on their lives every day. He pointed out that the 2022 budget is based on three main priorities: reforming the security system, developing infrastructure, and modernizing education and science. “We will pay great attention to ensuring security, without which it's impossible to achieve long-term development goals. In this sense, it is crucial not only to modernize the defense capabilities of the army but also to create a favorable external environment around Armenia and to consistently implement the agenda of opening a peaceful development era for Armenia, Artsakh, and the region,” he stated.

Pashinyan emphasized that the development of education is of key importance for Armenia; therefore, accessibility to education, inclusive development, and substantive reform are their long-term priorities. “Of course, it is impossible to solve all the issues facing the state with one budget; we need to move beyond the inertia of doing everything and, in essence, doing nothing. In the 2022 budget, we aimed to cautiously balance the government’s priorities while ensuring the manageability of various fiscal risks. We are confident that the government's program will be successfully implemented to ensure the security, welfare, and dignified life of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia,” declared Prime Minister Pashinyan.