People have stopped listening to each other, everyone is confident in what they say and criticizes the other, which is unacceptable. Gagik Tsarukyan
168.am published an interview With Gagik Tsarukyan, which we present in full:
– Mr. Tsarukyan, has 2024 been more of a year of achievements or difficulties for Armenia?
– You know, Armenia is not in a position to evaluate the year with such formulations. Of course, there are areas where there have been achievements, there are areas where there have not. But in a holistic perception, we live in conditions of an open wound. The security issue has not been resolved, we are still being threatened, new demands are being made, we have Armenians in Baku prisons, moreover, worthy people who have worked for our state, who have laid down their lives. Security threats will continue next year as well. We have numerous social problems of our compatriots in Artsakh. People who have lost their homes, jobs, and property are trying to continue their lives and need constant support. In short, there are many problems, and there is more to be done.
– From what you said, can we assume that there is little room for optimism?
– For me, optimism is not a wish or a dream. For me, optimism is clearly set goals, objectives, competent steps to achieve them, and persistent work. What is important is a person’s will, competent plans, experience, ability to work, and determination to turn the situation around and achieve the desired result. I may not be able, like many other figures, to go from air to air and speak smoothly with beautiful, empty words. I can’t, I don’t hide it, but I know very well what it means to do work: to clarify problems, organize work, and make the impossible a reality with competent, persistent steps. Never be afraid of the complexity of problems.
– Can we say that this also applies to your business activities, and that your entrepreneurial spirit is now speaking?
– What I said earlier was not about business, but about our reality. I haven’t been in business for a long time, it’s a past phase. But back when I was acquiring dilapidated, non-working factories that no one would come near, then yes, optimism helped me believe that it was possible to bring them to life, create jobs, provide high wages, produce competitive products, and find markets abroad. Optimism should be based on will and hard work. People now see established enterprises and wonder where Tsarukyan got them from. If they had seen them in a dilapidated, abandoned, non-working state, they wouldn’t have asked such a question, they would have simply been happy that as a result of many years of work they had become like this.
The same optimism guided me when I was building new factories in my homeland, opening new jobs, building churches, schools, kindergartens, hotels, in short, I was building without taking into account the risks.
– As the leader of one of the major parties, can you name the main issues that concern you, the solution of which would give optimism?
– Let’s agree on one thing: I am not saying a single thought, a single sentence as a representative of a party. I am not saying it for political gain or perspective. I am speaking as an individual, as an Armenian, as Gagik Tsarukyan. Armenia is not in a state where you can live from the perspective of party or personal gain. It is truly a very difficult stage, and we must rise above party or any other narrow notions.
And it is in that capacity that I say that the most important problem that we need to solve today is the problem of internal, intra-society reconciliation. I also said this last year these days. I also say it now: people can have different opinions, different viewpoints, but one cannot hate each other so much. I am talking about the barricading that exists among the people. Internal hostility between people is reaching unacceptable levels. This will not lead to anything good. People have stopped listening to each other, everyone is confident in what they say and hates the other. This is unacceptable. The other important problem is the loss of unity of the Armenian world, of all Armenians.
What we were proud of and what we were strong in, is gone today. Armenians living in different corners of the world are ceasing to be a part of a whole, of Armenianness. This is extremely worrying, and there is a lot of work to be done to change the situation. When the bombing of Beirut began, the first thing I thought about was the situation of our compatriots. I called Catholicos Aram I, asked what was the urgent need, what could I do for our Armenianness. We organized very quickly and did what was possible. Why do I say this? We must live with each other's worries, no matter where in the world we are. An Armenian should help an Armenian, be supportive, be useful. As soon as we start thinking like this, we will become a strong and respected people. We must make the world respect us again.
– What steps do you see this “forcing” taking? Does Armenia today have enough potential to be able to force something?
– Yes, it does, and we must reawaken that potential, step by step, program by program. I believe in the capabilities of our country, our people, I believe in our revival.
– Are there any strategic approaches that can significantly change the situation for our country, in our region?
– Close contacts, cooperation and integration with the expanding BRICS are the most promising for Armenia in strategic terms. The presence of Russia, China, India and Iran there already says everything. Working with BRICS will provide us with large markets and logistical opportunities. Russia is Armenia’s largest economic partner, Iran is our direct neighbor, we have endless opportunities for cooperation with China in terms of implementing large projects, with India we can do projects that others are currently doing, and we look at them with kind envy.
We should not ignore the fact that Azerbaijan and Turkey are striving for BRICS membership, which means completely new realities in our region and new opportunities for resolving issues. Now Russia is in first place in terms of trade turnover with Armenia, and here we must also take into account the presence of about 2.5 million of our compatriots living in Russia. The European Union has lost second place to the United Arab Emirates. And China and Iran are in 4th and 5th places. The growth rates with India are high. Thus, we see that four of the top five countries are BRICS members, and this is the reality that we must take into account.
It is obvious that in today's world, economic realities should also dictate political orientations in the interests of our state and ensuring its security. Roads, new transport routes, uninterrupted exploitation of new logistical opportunities - all this is possible within the framework of this great strategic orientation, since in this case the Republic of Armenia will be in the field of view of the interests of partner states. If we just take a simple look at our geography, it will become obvious that more than 80% of the Republic of Armenia's exports can be carried out within the framework of the BRICS map.
It is clear that close cooperation with BRICS, both economically and politically, is shaping a new architecture in the world and in our region.
I would very much like the political, political science, and expert community of Armenia to begin a substantive discussion of this topic. We must present the real possibilities, the perspective, and the essence of the idea to our society. I myself am ready to assist in the process of quality discussions, where there will be thoughts, ideas, facts, and calculations.
– The National Assembly has been heatedly discussing the 2025 budget for weeks, and there have been various assessments about the real state of the Armenian economy, from extremely optimistic to sharply critical. Have you followed them, and what is your point of view?
– I don’t have to form an idea about the real state of the Armenian economy from the NA debates. I know on the ground, from constant contacts with businessmen and ordinary people, based on the indicators and problems of system-building enterprises, I know the current and not yet apparent problems of our economy, and they worry me.
The pace of economic activity and economic growth has slowed sharply in recent months.
There is a sharp decrease in re-export volumes, an increase in the tax burden. There are draft laws on a number of specific taxes, such as excise tax and turnover tax, that send negative messages to business. The turnover tax on professional services is significantly increasing, and a number of services are being transferred to the field of value-added taxation. Approximately 14-15 thousand operating entities are finding themselves in a new situation, and it is very difficult to predict whether they will continue their work or move to the shadow economy, or to a neighboring country, or perhaps close altogether. In my opinion, this increase cannot be made for a number of professional services, other solutions must be found. Tens of thousands of people and other businesses use the services of lawyers, accountants, and auditors. There will be inflation in various sectors at the same time.
About another problem: we witnessed a sharp devaluation of the dram and the opposite process, and this in just a matter of days. Presumably, new fluctuations should be expected. These fluctuations are not desirable for the activities of enterprises. The state must ensure some stability at the macroeconomic level and convey these messages in a timely manner so that entrepreneurs can manage their risks. The increase in state debt is a serious problem. The state debt has reached 12.7 billion dollars. A small country like ours does not have the right to allow such an increase in state debt, since the amounts for servicing this debt alone already constitute enormous volumes for our state budget.
In general, the question arises: do we have an economic development model or not? The answer to this is very important for the business world and for foreign investors.
But I also see realities that will complicate the life of an ordinary citizen: a rise in the cost of transportation, an increase in property taxes, etc. A serious problem will be the process of universal declaration of income of individuals. Are we ready for such an extensive process? Of course not. Probably 90 percent of the population is not even aware that they have to fill out a declaration. In general, for any tightening, reform, first conditions must be created, then demands, first conditions must be created, then control. Otherwise, a good idea simply becomes a tool for doing harm to a person, putting them in a hopeless situation.
– We can't help but ask about the past sports year. Are you satisfied with the results of the year, the medals?
– I don’t want to list the number of medals in different sports, in different age groups. The number is actually very large, and the flag of our small Armenia is constantly raised in different countries, our anthem is played. I would like to address the issue of sports from two other perspectives. First, it is a huge work that has been done: the creation of infrastructure, the creation of sports schools, the training of coaches, the introduction of a fair system of encouraging coaches and athletes, etc. Imagine for a moment: an Armenian athlete brings a gold medal to the world championship, and if suddenly the second medal is silver, our society is upset. At that moment, it seems that it is forgotten that small Armenia competes in these championships with giants: China, the United States, Russia, Iran and other big ones. We compete with dignity, we win.
We have brilliant athletes, coaches, and this is the result of what we have done for 5-10-15 years. The other perspective: when our athlete, an Armenian athlete, competes and wins, it creates an atmosphere of united pan-Armenian joy, we forget our disagreements, we gain strength, we begin to believe in our abilities. This gives strength to the athlete, and to all of us. For example, how can you not feel powerful and proud when just a few days ago our weightlifter Varazdat Lalayan was recognized as the strongest man in the world. This is a topic of national pride.
I receive calls from all over the world, all communities follow the successes of our athletes. It should be like this in all areas, we should strive to build our steps in such a way that they unite the Armenian people. I truly believe in it. As for future medals and successes, we must continue to work every day, create, open new sports schools, educate, retrain coaches, develop sports medicine, and develop mass sports.
– Mr. Tsarukyan, in conclusion, your wishes for 2025 to our people.
– It will be a difficult year in many ways, and I would like to wish all of us that our country avoids major upheavals, that there be peace in our country, in our homes, and I would wish people simple personal happiness. I wish hope, faith, and love to all families. May God protect us all …
