Our Vision for the Future: A Strong Armenia - Samvel Karapetyan

In just a few days, we will enter the year significant for the history of Armenia and the Armenian people, 2026. Clearly, the parliamentary elections slated for June 2026 will have fateful consequences for our future as a nation with statehood. How that future will be shaped will be decided by the Armenian people themselves. This is written by Samvel Karapetyan this month.

“You know that a small group and its leader are presenting their vision of that future, which hinges on just one main point. They offer us various promises, rosy images, and video clips, but essentially convey a single message: despite all the calamities and disgraceful failures, let Nikol stay in power, and everything will be alright. What should lead to this improvement, and why he should remain in office for a third term is unclear. What achievement justifies it? The leader's knowledge has not improved, there is still no positive experience, there’s no normal strategy in any sector, the country is mired in debt, poverty is escalating and intensifying, democracy is eroding, society is extremely divided and filled with hatred, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is endangered, and the Armenian Diaspora is isolated from the homeland. This sad list can go on.

But noting all this is not new. I believe it is more important to present an alternative so that our citizens have a clear choice and are not left alone against governmental propaganda. Through this brief article, I aim to do just that. Based on my life experiences, good reputation, and past actions, I want to offer a vision for the future. It is relatively straightforward, and I can present it in just 3-4 points.

Firstly, and most importantly, our people have longed for justice, and we must fulfill their dream. The small group came to power with that fundamental promise and shamelessly deceived us all. We will bring that long-awaited justice.

Merit and intellect should hold a good position in the state system, regardless of connections or financial means. We will encourage and promote brave and patriotic individuals rather than push them away. We will pave a green path for the youth. We will not empty the state budget to fill our own pockets; quite the contrary. This is the right thing to do, the just thing, and what we need. We must enrich our country even at our own expense. We will utilize the business connections established over decades with the world's best and renowned companies to enrich, build, and develop our country. Our people and our state have numerous needs. What have we worked and earned for if we do not satisfy these needs? For years, our friendly United Arab Emirates has amazed the world with its economic growth. Now, it is our turn to amaze.

Secondly, Armenia must become a land of prosperity, where all citizens live safely and thrive in every sense. The Armenian people have earned the right to live well in their own country. We must leave the fact of having poor people in the past. We will provide work and opportunities for all those in need. There should not be a hungry or clothed child in Armenia. No parent should have to deal with the issue of affording medicine. This is a matter of my honor.

Furthermore, we cannot speak of development if a significant portion of our society is crushed under various debts, particularly bank loans. Many have taken loans once to solve a current issue, whether to buy a car, an apartment, or simply to celebrate New Year. Yet they find themselves in an endless loop of debt because needs do not end, life becomes more and more expensive and challenging, while incomes diminish. We will not leave these people to face their problems alone; together with banks and other lending institutions, we will find appropriate solutions. I see and have solutions in mind.

Thirdly, Armenia has no right to have poor relations with any neighbor or any major power. We will put an end to the shameful policy of extolling and simultaneously antagonizing from the very next day after the elections. We will not achieve real peace by pretending to be friends with an adversary such as Azerbaijan or Turkey; we will not feel safe in the region through deception against Russia; ignoring the vital interests of Iran and Georgia will not gain us friends in hard times. Our people have long forgotten how to solve their issues by maintaining good relations. We will do just that—solve our issues peacefully and professionally in our favor without forgetting anything.

Fourthly, we must become one large family again, where everyone works in an atmosphere of real love and harmony, enriching our homeland. After removing the small group, we must eradicate hatred from Armenia. I believe we must also gather as a nation and seriously analyze everything that happened to us in recent years. The roots of many problems lie within us, and we must find the strength to apologize to each other for the calamities that have occurred, making Armenia the safest and dream home for all Armenians around the globe.

This is the general outline of my vision for our future. Of course, I have more to say; this is not all. I will return to these questions again soon, speaking in more detail and programmatically, and my colleagues from the ‘In Our Way’ movement will also address this matter. However, I presented to you the most essential points, and I am at peace knowing that when thinking about the future, you can now at least juxtapose two scenarios: one where we have been living for over seven years and another as described above. The choice is yours. It is clear that sooner or later the future will come. The question is that we, Armenians, must make it truly ours in the best sense of the word—a just, prosperous, rich, peaceful, and harmonious Republic of Armenia,” he wrote.