Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community of Kazakhstan in Astana. The meeting was attended by Armenians from both Astana and regions hundreds of kilometers away from here. Representatives of the Armenian community of Uzbekistan were also present at the meeting, led by Rev. Hovhannes Kahana Grigoryan, spiritual pastor of St. Philip’s Church in Tashkent and St. Astvatsatsin Church in Samarkand.

Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan noted. “The revolution took place not only in Armenia, but also among Armenians, in the national consciousness, the most important result of which should be the use of national potential in order to strengthen our homeland together, which should be the number one guarantor of the existence of Armenians.”

According to Nikol Pashinyan, he recently got acquainted with a social survey, which revealed that the expression “I am Armenian” had different perceptions at different times.

“In the 21st century, the expression “I am Armenian” first of all identifies itself with the independent statehood of Armenia. Our most important task is to really involve our potential in the further development of Armenia. Our most significant omission has been that we have not formulated unified goals and that the various parts of our nation have acted less than unitedly. We should formulate a common national goal and all of us should focus our efforts to achieve it. I think that the most important feature of the revolution that took place is the following. we have gained new energy, new enthusiasm to be able to make Armenia a country that is able to protect itself at a high level, to develop, to be attractive for investments and to live there,” said the Acting Prime Minister.

Nikol Pashinyan was happy to note that after the revolution, initial trends of immigration are observed in Armenia. “From May to October inclusive, the balance of those who left and returned from Armenia is plus 13 thousand. In the same period of the previous year, it was minus 9 thousand. I hope that during our upcoming activities, these 13 thousand will become 130 thousand, 200 thousand, 1 million 300 thousand and we will have a state of a new level. We want Armenia to be guided by the following slogan. a happy individual, a caring society, a powerful state. I know that by joining our forces we will eventually reach that goal,” Nikol Pashinyan emphasized.

Then the Acting Prime Minister answered a number of questions of the representatives of the Armenian community, which were related to the development opportunities of the economy, education, science, healthcare, tourism, tax administration and reforms in Armenia.

A group of Armenians expressed interest and willingness to carry out business activities in different directions in the homeland, which was welcomed by Nikol Pashinyan.

“New opportunities have been created in the new Armenia and it depends on everyone’s desire whether he will use that opportunity or not. Let me talk about my example. when Armenia gained independence in 1991, it was announced that freedom of speech existed in the country. I had just finished school that year and said the following. when there is freedom of speech, it will not exist unless there are people who do not go and take that proclaimed opportunity. The same applies to New Armenia, when we say that there is a new business opportunity, freedom, it will not be a reality if people do not go and take advantage of this opportunity, freedom,” said the acting head of the government, adding that today there is no obstacle to doing any activity and investment in Armenia and he welcomes and values ​​the implementation of all similar initiatives. He emphasized that a consistent work promotion policy will be implemented in Armenia.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, the government has set itself the task of creating a map of Armenians in the world in order to see what potential we have in the field. “It is a difficult, but important work in order to be able to consolidate all the potential of our people,” said the Acting Prime Minister.

Referring to the political situation in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that democracy in our country is irreversible.

“Dictatorship cannot exist in the Republic of Armenia, democracy in our country is irreversible. The press in Armenia has never been as free as it is today. The most important change that has taken place is people’s perception of their role, mutual treatment. Foreigners get the biggest impression from the people in our country today, they say that they get the impression that Armenia is a family. This is the most important change. We are a democratic country and it cannot be otherwise. The revolution was made by the people against authoritarianism, oligarchic system and will not allow the creation of such a system anymore. Our the biggest corrosive thing to the political system has been the creation of a false opposition, which I believe happened after 1998. We will not go that way. For a long time, there was no government and opposition with the people’s mandate in Armenia, so the people of Armenia did not trust anyone. We will not create an artificial opposition, because the opposition must create itself. In the upcoming parliamentary elections, the people will decide who is the government and who is the opposition,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

Referring to the question of one of the participants of the meeting, about the business problems in Armenia two years ago, the previous negative phenomena and their solution, Nikol Pashinyan said.

“Without facing the truth, we cannot move forward. In April of this year, we reached a situation where the people stood up and said that this cannot continue. And how to proceed? We need to understand what was the reason why the primitive rules in our country were degraded. This is our biggest conceptual problem. Should all cases of corruption be disclosed or not? This is a serious matter and my opinion is that every penny stolen from the people should be returned. Every truth about our country must be revealed. But this does not mean that we should carry out vendettas, line up guillotines in our country. We should to have certain conditions to reach a national agreement. Those who have something to give back to the people, if they do, maybe there will be some leniency for them, but if not, then we have to do justice for them. Damages have been done to our country both in the domestic and foreign political environment. No one should think that they can rob the people and go somewhere to enjoy that loot. Such a thing will not happen,” stressed Nikol Pashinyan.