If we put the positive and negative aspects of the past 20 years of independence on the scale, then we will have nothing great to celebrate. Political scientist Richard Giragosian, head of Regional Studies Center NGO, made this statement during a meeting with reporters on September 19. Explaining his point of view, he said that emigration, corruption and other economic conditions in the country give no cause for celebration. In his words, those people who leave Armenia do this thing not of their own free will, but because there is no alternative. “We should compare our political reforms not with Azerbaijan, but with Armenia’s external and domestic achievements in the past and now,” he noted. For example, Armenia is one of those few countries, which pay money for having a foreign military base in its territory – instead of receiving payments for it. “Armenia does not control its territories - this is an insult to self-determination and independence,” R. Giragosian said. In his words, Armenia needs such statesmen who will be guided by state approaches and who will present Armenia not in the form, in which it was 20 years ago, but will be able to see the country’s future in 20 years. Speaking about the authorities-opposition dialog, R. Giragosian said that he considers it quite important – regardless of its results. “The dialog being carried on mainly by two Davids – David Shahnazarian and David Harutyunian – is a step forward in politics,” he said, adding that such a dialog is the only way of solving problems in a civilized manner.

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