Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) declared that the speech of the Armenian President, leader of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at RPA congress is “direct nationalism”.

“Each Armenian family will get an opportunity to purchase housing and car, while reforms will provide for pensions allowing people to live worthy life,” he quoted the President as saying.

Yeghiazaryan believes this is unacceptable violation of international norms since the rights of national minorities, namely Russians, Belarussians living in Armenia are not respected.

ANC representative said the authorities were not able to ensure measures to improve the living standards in the country over the past four years. “Look into the buildings’ windows, most of them are dark; Armenia faces high rate of migration,” he stressed adding that 98% of the population lives in poverty now.

For her part, RPA member Karine Atchemyan mentioned the actions which helped Armenian economy escape serious problems caused by both external and domestic challenges. In particular, social expenditure was not cut, with mortgage programs and construction implemented in the disaster zone.

“The main point of the President’s speech was the human factor to be put in the focus of the government’s attention,” she said.

Yeghiazaryan responded to this saying that the crisis could not hit Armenia, a country that has no economy.