Nikol Pashinyan promised full support to Armenian football

ArmInfo.Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Armen Melikbekyan and First Deputy FFA President Armen Nikoghosyan.

As the press service of the RA PM reports, Nikol Pashinyan noted that  football is one of those spheres in which Armenian society can see  real and significant changes. "I should emphasize that the government  welcomes these changes, as they have led to very good results. I wish  to underscore that in fact our national team with the games won in  quite a challenging period for our country pioneered the return of  positive emotions to the country and the people. I am far from trying  to overestimate the role of this function, but on the other hand, I  do not want to see our national football team fettered in future  competitions. Nevertheless, I deem it important to remind that we  expect specific sporting achievements on the way to Armenia's  transformation strategy by the year 2050. We expect that by that time  the national team will not only reach the finals of the European or  world championships, but it will also be able to win medals. I know  that this is quite a complex task, but in any case, we need to  develop football and sports infrastructure in order to better  organize the socio-economic life in the country. So, you may rest  assured that you will have the government's backing in implementing  your programs, and of course, we will do everything possible to  uphold the ongoing positive trends."

Thankful for Nikol Pashinyan's kind remarks and accurate assessments,  Armen Melikbekyan said: "In fact, we felt the government's support in  the most difficult moments before and after the war; without your  support it would have been impossible to organize international  matches. I should note that in such difficult moments our sporting  achievements brought some support to Armenia. We have set clear-cut  objectives as specified in the strategy of the Football Federation of  Armenia until 2025, and we are going to fulfill the minimum goal for  2022 or 2024 before that period, namely to reach the final stage of  the World or European Championships. This is reflected in our  strategy.

Of course, the Football Federation cannot do all this on its own, and  we are grateful for the government's continued support, and we will  try to live up to the mark, since the Armenian national team has  achieved a historic result at this point of time. Next year we will  be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Football Federation and  the national team of Armenia. Our national team has three wins in the  three starting games.  We will have challenging standoffs in the  fall, but in any case, both the players and the coaching staff, and  representatives of the FFA administration understand the importance  of these victories for the country."

Nikol Pashinyan and the FFA leaders discussed football development  programs aimed at improving sporting infrastructure, developing youth  football, ensuring the progress of the youth and national teams, as  well as promoting club football in Armenia