The goal set back in 1988 has not changed: Artsakh state minister
YEREVAN, December 12. /ARKA/. The goal set back in 1988 to have Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Armenian, developed and happy has not changed, but the conviction that it will become a reality has decreased, Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan said last week.
"People don't believe in the future, don't believe in leaders, doubting whether it is possible to achieve this goal. But I am sure this goal can be achieved, but it requires great efforts and work," he said in an interview with Artsakh Public Television.
Speaking about how exactly this goal can be achieved, Vardanyan said the first thing to do is revise the general approach to governance.
‘We have to return to the society faith in the leadership, because if you don't trust your leaders in times of crisis, you can't do anything," he stressed.
As a second step, the state minister pointed to the need for people to understand that the only way to succeed under the current blockade is to unite.
"And the third is that we must accept that change is inevitable. We have to make changes, and these changes will lead to very painful reactions, first and foremost, from the local elite,’ he said.
Vardanyan explained that the general atmosphere in society and the economy has created a "sick" situation in which wealthy people enjoy more than ordinary people. He stated that this was unacceptable to him and that this would certainly change.
"A new stage requires new ideas, new approaches, new programs, new methods of management," he stressed.
Speaking about when his new government will be formed , the state minister said that first it is necessary to approve the goals, then the approaches and resources of management. He said the team may include former ministers as well as new people, including those not from Artsakh, which will enable the country to use Armenian potential.
Vardanyan also said there are no agreements with Artsakh's political forces about "handing out positions," adding that he has a 100 percent mandate to select the people he sees fit in this matter.
"Of course, I listen to the opinions of various people, consult with various groups, and make decisions on my own. I will be responsible for these decisions," he stressed.
Ruben Vardanyan 54, whose total assets, according to Forbes magazine, are estimated at $1.3 billion, renounced his Russian citizenship in September, 2022 and moved to Karabakh, because ‘its people who have survived two wars and lost their relatives and loved ones in the struggle for independence, are abandoned, forgotten and no one needs them.’
Later he was appointed as state minister, an equivalent of prime minister, by Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan. -0-
