Armen Sargsyan: Serzh Sargsyan`s proposal on my nomination at the presidential elections in Armenia was "an expected surprise"

ArmInfo. Serzh Sargsyan's proposal to nominate a ruling Republican Party in the presidential elections in Armenia was "an unexpected surprise," he had never had such a conversation with him before, Armenian Ambassador to Great Britain Armen Sargsyan said in his interview with "Shant" TV channel, noting that his name was often mentioned during various elections in Armenia.

At the same time, he expressed gratitude to the president that he gave him time to think. "There are many reasons for this, and the question is not just whether I want it or not, I'm ready for it or not, but what I will do when I accept this offer," he explained. At the same time, Sargsyan noted that even earlier, when appointing to this or that post, he asked for time to think over the leadership of the country. "It was like that when I was offered the post of the RA Ambassador to the UK in 2013, but having agreed, I set the condition - I should work without salary, so I wanted to make some contribution to the development of the Motherland," Sargsyan explained. Touching on the various rumors spread around his name, in particular, about the quarrel at the time of his premier with the then occupied position of Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, he denied them.

"Such rumors can affect not only the internal situation in the country, but also its international relations," Sargsyan assured, stressing that the reason for his resignation as prime minister in 1996 was not a quarrel with Vazgen Sargsyan, as it is discussed in the media, but a serious illness that forced him to continue treatment abroad. Sargsyan also denied other information - his connection with the company Lidian, which operates the Amoulsar field in Jermuk. "Neither I nor my family have ever been shareholders of this company and will not be them.The last time I dealt with this company 5 years ago.Lidian is a registered in Canada, transparent company and everyone can easily find the names its owners, among whom my name is not exact, "explained the presidential candidate, while not hiding the fact that as an RA Ambassador he assisted this company in the direction of investing in the Armenian economy.

"The fact that I could not be a member of the Board of Directors of Lidian proves the fact that its shareholders are the World Bank and the European Bank, and these structures do not invest in companies whose members are former or current officials, explained Sarkisyan. The ambassador said that in his time he also worked with the Coca-Cola company and HSBC-bank, who also decided to invest and open their representative offices in Armenia as a result of long-term efforts. Sargsyan also said that one of the shareholders of Lidian Joseph Ugurlyan is an Armenian by nationality and is currently building a hydroelectric power plant in Artsakh. Answering the question of whether he violates the constitutional residence requirement for the past 6 years in Armenia, running for presidency, Sargsyan said: "The question is in another, but does the Constitution of Armenia allow a person with my biography to run? can de jure be a presidential candidate, how the period of his residence in Armenia has been counted for the last 6 years, everything is clearly spelled out in the law, the relevant structures will answer this question.

" Touching upon his relations with the Armenian establishment, he assured that he does not feel any dissonance. Speaking about the high level of poverty in the country, Sargsyan said that this problem can not be solved by charity, it can be overcome only by work, creating jobs with a decent salary. "If I decide to run and get elected, then I will direct all my efforts to develop the economy and create jobs, attracting investment is not an end in itself," Sargsyan said. He stressed that he had achieved everything he had achieved, he had worked hard because he was not born into a well-to-do family, and as an example he was served by parents who also worked tirelessly. "I do not know the other way to success, so the path I've traveled will never allow me to look at someone from above, despite his social status or age," assured the presidential candidate. Speaking about his life in the UK, he stressed that, wherever he was, always remained an Armenian, and felt a little representative of the Armenian Diaspora. He also said that his grandchildren who were born in the UK, once a week for two hours in compulsorily deal with the Armenian language with the grandmother.