News - PM: The fact that Armenia government has adopted the peace agenda is also result of democracy

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in an open discussion entitled "Results of Democracy" organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in New York. Leaders and representatives of governments of various countries and of international organizations took part in the event. First, USAID administrator Samantha Power took the floor and noted that this spring she had the opportunity to go to Brussels to discuss the concrete steps that can be taken to support Armenia's democratic and peaceful future. According to Power, she arrived in Armenia’s capital Yerevan in July to give a new impulse to this progress and to get personally acquainted with the efforts of the Armenian people towards democracy. Also, she announced that they are working with the US Congress, USAID, the US State Department to provide $20 million to Armenia to promote its cyber, border, and energy security, as well as increase its resilience. In his turn, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that he would like to share with those in attendance what democracy has given Armenia after the revolution of 2018. He said that after this revolution, there is no longer any doubt in the Armenian society that the official elections reflect the real will of the Armenian people. This is a task that has already been carried out, and there is no going back to questionable elections, he added. According to Pashinyan, the next thing, which is also very important, is that democracy gives free economic activity to all people. He said before the revolution, Armenia had monopolies and restrictions on certain economic activities in the country, but now this issue is also resolved. Pashinyan said that one of the most important outcomes of democracy in Armenia is that the society now has the opportunity to raise questions, revise stereotypes, and discuss the past, present, and future. The Armenian PM expressed a view that this is a very important circumstance because the fact that the Armenian government has adopted the peace agenda is also a result of democracy, and it is very important for this agenda to be crowned with success. The Armenian PM said that the next result may be about revising traditional views again. He said it is about the role of women in society. Pashinyan said that it is certain that currently women are more active and engaged in Armenia, and the Armenian people and society perceive this is an important component of the social, economic, and political development of the country.