Ruben Vardanyan on Resignations of Ministers in Artsakh

The Prime Minister of Artsakh, Ruben Vardanyan, wrote on his Facebook page:

“Emphasizing the principle of transparency, I find it essential to elaborate on yesterday's decisions.

Regarding the political system of Artsakh, the governance system must correspond to the challenges faced today by both Artsakh and its people. Not every country has followed the same path as the Republic of Artsakh and its people.

Today, the people of Artsakh are facing an existential crisis. We all must clearly understand this.

The current political system of Artsakh is extremely complex. For small countries like ours, a simpler system can be more effective, particularly through the implementation and application of mechanisms of direct democracy.

It is very important that the people have the opportunity to engage in the decision-making processes pertaining to their fate. The introduction of referendums as a mechanism of expression will allow citizens to participate in making specific decisions about their future and that of their children, to stay informed, and to bear some responsibility for the decisions taken.

Transparent work, substantiation of decision-making, and setting criteria for determining priorities will help overcome the acute sense of injustice currently felt in Artsakh and restore their faith and trust in the future. This is the strategic direction that needs to be considered when implementing all reforms in general.

I am convinced that reforms to the political system should be approached with caution, avoiding euphemisms and conducting substantive discussions with the public until they are implemented.

Regarding the resignations of ministers, yes, it was a difficult decision, and it was my decision, discussed with all the ministers. There are some internal conflicts that I do not wish to intervene in. I assess and continue to assess the situation in Artsakh as critical, and the measures I intend to propose to overcome this crisis are not quite conventional.

Today, there are entirely new types of problems facing the executive authority, and different specialists with other experiences, skills, and knowledge are needed to address them.

When a building collapses due to a disaster, the first responders are called in to clear the rubble and rescue people. Then come the builders and architects to construct a new building in the cleared space. We are currently in such a situation; we are transitioning from post-war recovery to creative work.

I thank all those who have performed their duties with honesty and high professionalism. Now we are moving towards a new kind of work and addressing new types of issues as they ‘reconfigure’.

We will have three main directions and six groups of issues, each with its own projects. We must implement dozens of reforms. This front requires an entirely new approach; it is more about project management than ongoing administrative work.

A well-formed team is the guarantee of achieving strategic goals. If administrative mistakes are made now, we may jeopardize the objective of ensuring the security and development of Artsakh during this critical and complex phase. And that is unacceptable.

Our commitment is one: to guarantee the stable and sustainable development of Armenian Artsakh.”