Thursday, 22 May 2014
Final Statement by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan at National Assembly
Honorable President of the National Assembly,
Distinguished Vice-Presidents,
Dear MPs,
I would like to sincerely thank all those MPs who voiced interested opinions on the government program.
By saying interested I never mean laudable. I have always been of the opinion that healthy criticism and constructive opposition strengthens the country and the government. Political parties are supposed to have not only ideological and strategic, but also tactical differences on many vital issues, and the floor of the National Assembly is just the podium to voice such differences.
I am also grateful to those who were consistent in substantiating their proposals and allowed the representatives of the government and myself to present our views and approaches more clearly.
Many proposals, both critical and supportive, showed concern about the country’s welfare: I saw willingness to better the situation in the Republic of Armenia. We have taken note of all those ideas and recommendations voiced from this podium and will take them up at the policy development or implementation stage. We will extend a sincere invitation for participation to all stakeholders.
At the same time, I am saddened by the fact that our political culture is still undermined by the vicious practice of discrediting individual politicians for lack of other arguments. I do not think that it is just what people expect from the politicians and I believe that it is disrespectful to the voters.
Dear colleagues, both the authorities and the opposition are in the same boat, and we are all navigating together, that is, each of us has a share of responsibility for the country. In this respect, former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan’s stance can be deemed as a typical example of government-opposition relationship.
Hrant Bagratyan’s speech was not a politician’s statement, but statesman’s speech, because a politician thinks of the next election, while a statesman is concerned in the nation’s welfare, regardless of their political convictions and disagreements with the authorities. Dear oppositionists, please think about this.
Wrapping up my statement, I wish to thank you once again and assure you that I am looking forward to working together with you in an atmosphere of tolerance and solidarity. This is what I wish and suggest. Thank you.
