Six scenarios of recovering Armenia's post-war economy presented by parties and blocs running in June 20 snap polls

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Representatives of six political parties and blocs, running in the early parliamentary elections slated for June 20, presented their models of the economic recovery after the war in Artsakh as they spoke at a discussion organized by the Public Television of Armenia. 

Civil Contract party 

Economy minister Vahan Kerobyan from acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's team said the focus of the ruling party will be on building an economy free from corruption to secure high growth. “We have already created good enough opportunities to remove the obstacles hindering business development so that the available opportunities are accessible to as many people as possible,” he said. 

Freedom party 

The head of the Freedom party, former Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan stressed the need to put an end to the development of production at the expense of consumption and move to an investment policy. He explained that the transition means: 1) rejection of the universal banking system and transition to a specialized one; 2) the presence of a sovereign investment fund; 3) changes in the tax system and refusal from VAT; 4) eliminating unnecessary promises to raise salaries.

Armenia bloc 

Alexander Khachatryan, who is on the bloc's electoral list, says first of all it is necessary to concentrate on infrastructures that ensure the country's security as there is a problem with equipping borders and there are problems with roads, water resources and electricity. Khachatryan noted that the bloc will continue to work on the improvement of the business environment through digitalization. The bloc will also cut taxes as much as possible, as well as concentrate on increasing exports. 

Pativ Unem (I have the honor) bloc 

Robert Harutyunyan, a candidate for MP presented the priorities of this bloc comprising ex-president Serzh Sargsyan's Republican Party of Armenia and the Homeland Party of former chief of the National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan. Harutyunyan stressed that the most important problem are serious risks in public finance and public finance management. In this regard, according to him, it is necessary to abandon insignificant and pointless expenses, (except for defense, social security and health care). "From this point of view, the most important task for us is to assist small and medium-sized businesses," he said. Harutyunyan stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of water, fuel and raw materials for villagers. 

5,165 party 

Saro Papikyan, an MP candidate of this party said that the emphasis is to be on reducing the polarization and hatred of the Armenian society that emerged after the war and establishing solidarity to attract investors. "To attract investment, first of all, internal social and Diaspora solidarity is needed," he said. Papikyan stressed that the main direction of the party is to eliminate the mistakes of the past. The party believes that it is necessary to reconsider the structural priorities of the Armenian economy, placing the focus on the military industry, agriculture, education and science, health care and tourism. 

Armenian National Congress 

Levon Zurabyan, deputy chairman of the Armenian National Congress (the leader is the first president of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan), said that Armenia needs a radically new path, which has 8 landmarks. The first two guidelines relate to security and constitutional amendments, and it is also important to improve public administration. As for the economy, Zurabyan stressed that the party views the future of Armenia as a technologically advanced country with environmentally friendly production and agriculture. "We will consider advanced and information technologies, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, modern energy, the development of environmentally friendly agro and biotechnologies to be the axis of Armenia's economic development," he said. Zurabyan stated that it is necessary to take serious steps to overcome the economic isolation of the country, in particular, it is necessary to build a railway from Meghri through Syunik, Sisian to lay a railway that will connect the Persian Gulf to Russia. Also, according to him, it is necessary to stimulate exports and establish integration with the global economy. 

Four party blocs and 22 parties have been qualified to run in the June 20 snap polls.-0-