168.am presents the interview with Gagik Tsarukyan.
- Mr. Tsarukyan, was 2024 a year of achievements or difficulties for Armenia?
- You know, Armenia is not in a position to evaluate the year in such terms. Of course, there are areas where there have been achievements, there are areas where not. But in a holistic perception, we live in conditions of an open wound. The security problem has not been solved, 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 and laid down their lives. Security threats will continue next year as well. We have many 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, more to be done.
- From what you said, can it be assumed that there is little stock of optimism?
- For me, optimism is not a wish or a dream. For me, optimism is clearly set goals, problems, 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 result you want. I may not be able, like many other figures, to go from air to air and speak smoothly with cute empty words. I can't, I don't hide it, but I know very well what it means to do something: clarify the problems, organize the work, make the impossible a reality with competent and persistent steps. Never be afraid of the complexity of problems.
- Can it be said that this also applies to your business activities, and that your business instinct is speaking now?
- What I said before was not about business, but about our reality. I haven't been involved in business for a long time, it's a past phase. But at the time, when I acquired destroyed, non-working factories, which no one came close to, then yes, optimism helped me to believe that it is possible to bring them to life, create jobs, give high wages, give competitive products, find markets abroad. Optimism should be based on will and diligence. People now see established enterprises and wonder where Tsarukyan got them from. If they had seen them in a destroyed, abandoned, non-working state, they would not have asked such a question, they would have simply been happy that they have become like this as a result of many years of work.
The same optimism guided me when I was building new factories in my homeland, opening new workplaces, building churches, schools, kindergartens, hotels, in short, I was building without considering the risks.
- As the leader of one of the major political parties, can you name the main problems that bother you, the solution of which would give optimism?
- Let's agree on one thing. I do not say a single thought or sentence as a representative of the 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 position to live from the point of view of party or personal interest.
It is really a very difficult stage, and we must rise above party or any other narrow ideas. And it is in this capacity that I say that the most important problem that we have to solve today is the problem of internal, intra-societal reconciliation. I said this last year as well. I say it now too. people can have different opinions, different points of view, but you can't hate each other so much. I am talking about the existing barricades among the people. Internal enmity between people reaches unacceptable levels. This will not lead to a good place.
People have stopped listening to each other, everyone is sure of what he says and hates the other. This is unacceptable. Another important problem is the loss of the unity of the Armenian world, the entire Armenian people. What we were proud of and what we were strong with is gone today. Armenians living in different corners of the world cease to be a part of a whole, the Armenian nation.
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 condition of our compatriots. I called Aram the First Catholicos, I clarified: what is the urgent need, what can I do for our Armenians?
We organized very quickly and did everything possible. Why am I saying this? we have to live with each other's worries, wherever we are in the world. Armenians should help Armenians, be kind, be useful. Once we start thinking like this, we will become a strong and respected people. We have to make the world respect us again.
- In what steps do you see this "forcing"? Does Armenia have so much potential today that it can force something?
- Yes, it has, 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 strategically the most promising for Armenia. 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 biggest economic partner, Iran is our direct border, we have endless opportunities for cooperation with China in terms of implementing large projects, with India we can do projects that others are doing now, and we look with good envy. We should not ignore either. the fact that Azerbaijan and Turkey are striving for BRICS membership, and this means completely new realities in our region and new opportunities for solving issues.
Now the Russian Federation is in the first place in terms of the volume of trade with Armenia, and here we must also take into account the presence of about 2.5 million of our compatriots living in the Russian Federation. The European Union has lost the second place to the United Arab Emirates, and China and Iran are in the 4th and 5th places.
The growth rates with India are high. So we see that four of the top five countries are BRICS members, and this is the reality that must be reckoned with. Obviously, in today's world, economic realities must also dictate political orientations for our benefit. ensuring the security of the state and the state. Roads, new transport routes, uninterrupted exploitation of new logistical possibilities. all this is possible within the framework of this great strategic orientation, because in that case RA 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 RA 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 a new architecture. is forming in the world and in our region.
I would very much like the Armenian political, political science, and expert community to start the substantive discussion of this topic. We must present our society with the real possibilities, the perspective, the essence of the idea. I myself am ready to support the process of quality discussions, where there will be thought, idea, fact, calculation.
- The National Assembly has been intensively discussing the 2025 budget for weeks, and there have been various assessments of the real state of the RA economy, from very optimistic to sharply critical. Have you followed them and what is your opinion?
- I will not get an idea about the real state of Armenia's economy from the NA discussions. I know on the real ground, from constant contacts with businessmen and ordinary people, based on the indicators and problems of system-creating enterprises, I know the current and yet to be seen problems of our economy, and they worry me.
In recent months, the rate of economic activity and economic growth has slowed down. There is a sharp decrease in the volume of re-exports, an increase in the tax burden. There are draft laws regarding a number of specific taxes, such as excise tax and turnover tax, which send negative messages to business.
In terms of professional services, the turnover tax is significantly increased, and a number of services are transferred to the field of value added taxation. Approximately 14-15 thousand operating entities find themselves in a new situation, and it is very difficult to predict whether they will continue their work, or whether they will move to a shadow field, or to a neighboring country, or maybe they will be closed altogether. In my opinion, regarding a number of professional services, it is not possible to go for that increase, other solutions should be given. Tens of thousands of people and other businesses use the services of lawyers, accountants, and auditors.
About another problem. we witnessed a sharp devaluation of the dram and the opposite process, and that in just a matter of days. Presumably, we have to wait for new fluctuations. These fluctuations are not desirable for the activities of enterprises. The state must ensure certain stability at the macroeconomic level and convey these messages in time so that entrepreneurs can manage their risks. The increase in public debt is a serious problem.
The state debt has reached 12.7 billion dollars. A small country like us does not have the right to increase the state debt, because the debt service amounts alone are huge for our state budget. do we have an economic development model or not?
The answer to this is very important for the business world, for foreign investors. But I also see realities that will complicate the life of an ordinary citizen: an increase in the cost of transportation, an increase in property taxes, etc. The process of universal declaration of income of individuals will be a serious problem. Are we ready for such a comprehensive process? of course not. Perhaps 90 percent of the population is not even aware that they have to fill out a declaration.
In general, for any tightening, reform, conditions must first be created, then new demands must be made, conditions must first be created, and then controlled. Otherwise, a good idea simply becomes a tool to do bad things to a person, to put him in a hopeless situation.
- We cannot but ask about the past sports year. Are you satisfied with the year's results and 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 national anthem is played. I would like to address the issue related to sports from two different perspectives.
First of all, it is a huge work done: creation of infrastructure, establishment of sports schools, training of coaches, introduction of a fair system of incentives for coaches and athletes, etc. Imagine for a moment: an Armenian athlete brings a gold medal at the world championship, and if suddenly the second medal is silver, our society is upset. At that moment, it seems to be forgotten that little Armenia competes with giants in those championships: China, the United States, Russia, Iran and other big ones. We compete decently, we win.
We have brilliant athletes, coaches, and this is the result of 5-10-15 years. The other point of view. when our athlete, an Armenian athlete, competes and wins, it creates an atmosphere of unified pan-Armenian joy, we forget our disagreements, gain strength, and begin to believe in our abilities. It 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 nationwide pride.
It should be like that in all spheres, we should try to build our steps in such a way that they unite Armenians. I really believe that. As for future medals and successes, we must continue to work every day, create, open new sports schools, educate, train coaches, develop sports medicine, develop mass sports.
- Mr. Tsarukyan, in the end, your wishes for 2025 to our people.
- It will be a difficult year in many ways, and I would wish all of us that our country avoids major upheavals, that there would be peace, in our country, in our homes, I would wish people simple personal happiness. I wish hope, faith and love to all families. God protect us all...
