Aram Manukian on achievements and failures in 2013

The series of failures for Armenia in 2013 began with the ‘shameful’ results of the presidential elections and the elections to Yerevan Council of Elders, the deputy of Armenian National Congress (HAK) parliamentary faction Aram Manukian said at a meeting with reporters today, when summarizing the results of 2013.

In his opinion, there have been top 13 failures this year. “We can dispute these failures or add new ones, but not reduce their number,” Manukian noted.

According to him, the failures include the introduction of paid parking lots in Yerevan, the offshore scandal, the entry into the Customs Union, and the shift to a compulsory accumulative pension system. Aram Manukian pointed out the increase in natural gas price and the sale of 20% of ArmRosGazprom (ARG) Company’s shares.

“The rise in the gas price and the sale of 20% of ARG shares was the greatest scandal. It was the most humiliating process injuring our self-respect. It was a useless step taken towards the end of the year: there was not such a deal and such humiliation even in the most difficult times of the Armenian people and the country,” Aram Manukian said.

Speaking about failures in foreign policy, the HAK deputy said: “The U-turn and the September 3 statement of the authorities shocked Armenian citizens, political forces, and the international community”.

Aram Manukian considered joint work of the four non-coalition factions of the Armenian parliament as an achievement of 2013.