What Ruben Vardanyan Plans to Do: He Presents His Upcoming Agenda

Public and political figure, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan has outlined the key areas vital for the future of Artsakh, where he will continue his efforts and which will be the focus of the programs of his established "We are Our Mountains" territorial development agency.

According to Vardanyan's office, he emphasized during the meeting that his goal remains unchanged: to do everything to ensure a safe, free, and dignified Armenian Artsakh. He noted that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the Karabakh movement, but the struggle still continues. "For many, the struggle means war, the struggle involves casualties. In my understanding, the struggle is when you correctly assess your strengths and weaknesses, know what needs to be done to minimize the risks stemming from the weaknesses, and strengthen your strengths, turning them into advantages and using them correctly. For me, that is the struggle—waking up every morning and asking yourself what you have done in that direction," he stated.

Vardanyan mentioned that eight areas of struggle have been identified, around which the programs will be implemented. These include, in particular, strengthening subjectivity, creating a reliable system for security and defense, including civil defense, developing a viable economic system, resisting hybrid warfare, and establishing a quality and competitive educational system. "The challenges we face require systematic work and the concentration of all forces. The government alone cannot carry out this work; it is possible through the mobilization of all private and public resources and engagement of the potential of the Armenian world. As a society, we cannot overcome our challenges without unifying. We must do everything to build trust among each other," he added.

He highlighted that since its establishment last November, the "We are Our Mountains" territorial development agency has implemented programs worth over $4 million aimed at supporting Artsakh, primarily in two strategic initiatives and public significance programs. The second group of projects has focused on addressing the priority needs of the Artsakh population amid the crisis. The "We are Our Mountains" agency will continue its active work in Artsakh.

Speaking about the importance of public trust in authorities, Vardanyan mentioned that transparency has been his guiding principle since he believes that a transparent approach is the foundation of justice. "While remaining in Artsakh, I will be very diligent in ensuring that these principles are upheld," he stated. In this context, he addressed the discussions around providing new social benefits (related to utility payments and others), noting that such decisions should be transparent, and the public must be informed about the financial sources for their implementation, especially when the budget has been approved with a deficit, and previous social programs and commitments have not yet been fulfilled.

Vardanyan also discussed the necessity of maintaining "red lines" concerning Artsakh, which, according to him, are crucial for keeping Artsakh safe, free, and dignified. "I am glad that my interactions with senior officials and representatives from all segments of society helped establish these red lines. We are committed to defending these red lines, as any violation of them is unacceptable," he concluded.