Armenian parliamentary forces sum up results of Serzh Sargsyan`s  10-year presidency: Positions diverge

ArmInfo.10 years of Serzh Sargsyan's presidency were marked by a number of promises that were never implemented. The deputy of the National Assembly from the  opposition bloc "Elk" Gevorg Gorgisyan stated in the conversation    with ArmInfo correspondent.  

"Sargsyan promised us economic growth, a new nuclear power plant, the Armenia-Iran railway, an associative agreement with the European Union, and even the share  of all this was not fulfilled." If we compare the current situation  in the country with the situation in 2008, we can say that no  significant changes to the better. There was a lot of negative  changes - the growth of external debt, inflation, emigration,"  Gorgisyan said.

The greatest failure of Sargsyan, the deputy considered the April war  in 2016. "We had huge losses, first of all human ones, which we could  avoid, it was during the presidency of Serzh Sargsyan that the  Armenian side had territorial losses," Gorgisyan stressed.

Nevertheless, the oppositioner also saw one achievement of Serzh  Sargsyan's presidency: the signing of the Agreement on a  comprehensive and expanded partnership between Armenia and the EU.

Meanwhile, the head of the faction of the ruling Republican Party,  Vahram Baghdasaryan, on the contrary, highly appreciated the ten-year  presidency of his party leader. "I want to note that Serzh Sargsyan's  presidency coincided with the international economic crisis and the  president immediately launched a policy of fighting the crisis, and  if we compare the development and achievements of Armenia during the  years of Sargsyan's presidency with other post-Soviet countries, our  advantages are obvious," the MP said.

Baghdasaryan stressed that there were many difficulties in the way of  President Sargsyan - attempts to overthrow the authorities, rallies,  the April war. "Against all these complexities, our main task was to  ensure security in the country, and President Sargsyan succeeded,"  Baghdasaryan stressed. Baghdasaryan considered the signing of the  Agreement on Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership with the EU and  Armenia's membership in the EAEU an example of political  farsightedness of Sargsyan. "Also our achievement is the smooth  transition of the country from the presidential to the parliamentary  system of government, this is our most significant achievement," said  Vahram Baghdasaryan.

The Republican did not share his opponents' assessments of the April  war. In his opinion, as a result of the flexible policy of Serzh  Sargsyan, the Armenian side was able to adequately resist the  aggressive actions of the enemy. "We have an unpredictable neighbor  who does not obey the international rules of the game, and we  negotiate effectively in such difficult conditions. President  Sargsyan's statements never differed from our steps, unlike the  actions of Azerbaijani leader Aliyev," Baghdasaryan concluded.

In his turn, the deputy of the Tsarukyan bloc, the head of the  commission for science, education, culture and youth affairs Vardan  Bostanjyan stated in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent that  there have been both objective and subjective difficulties over the  past 10 years. "We could not overcome all the problems that currently  exist in Armenia, such as corruption and monopolies, and there are no  special economic achievements either, but in any case, Sargsyan  managed to ensure a certain stability in the country," Bostanjyan  stressed. 

The MP noted that the security issue in Armenia is very acute against  the backdrop of the unresolved Artsakh conflict. "Serzh Sargsyan  managed to ensure the security of the country, he also managed to  bring the Karabakh talks to a new level and defend the interests of  Artsakh, despite the fact that the negotiations are attended by  superpowers and each of which has a personal interest, and this  complicates the resolution of the conflict," the MP stressed. 

On April 9, presidential term of office of Armenian President Serzh  Sargsyan expired. However, already on April 17 he will be nominated  for the post of prime minister of the country.