“First of all, let me express my sincere gratitude for nominating me as President of the National Assembly: Let me express my gratitude, first of all, to the President of the country, parties forming part of political coalition for guaranteeing my candidacy for this honoured and responsible post.

For me the National Assembly is a structure close to my heart. During the recent 15 years I have been a deputy to the National Assembly and a member of the Government, so, I can say with confidence that I am well aware of the peculiarities of the activity of the National Assembly.

And now let me introduce the keynote main provisions and approaches, which in the case of my election, I’ll try to implement together with you.

First: the provision of the atmosphere of necessary mutual respect, tolerance and partnership for the regular and productive activity of the parliament.

I think that everybody will agree that working in the higher representative body of the country, moreover, coordinating the works of that body demands human concrete qualities: resoluteness of making brave decisions, but also ability and will of making compromises. The works of the legislative body also demand qualities of simple and sincere human contacts, and of course, political experience. In my opinion the President of the parliament, first of all, is a partner, but not a leader.

Almost all MPs present in this hall know me, know my abilities, my strong and, perhaps, my weak points. We have long-term partnership and human warm relations with most of you. I am sure, you don’t doubt that the issue of the prestige of the National Assembly will become an issue of honour and dignity for me.

I am more than sure in one thing too: I am sure that I’ll do in a way that any dispute or disagreement will not reflect on the regular activity and working atmosphere of the parliament.

I would like to stress distinctly that I’ll be consecutive and critical in the issues of vital importance for the country and in honest human relations.

Second: during recent period we had to overcome a period full of ordeals and challenges. It’s clear that in the conditions of this new realities the political forces representing both the power and opposition and the society have to do a lot, as all of us are responsible for the today and tomorrow of our country.

And today’s imperative is that a beginning of political processes and traditions will be laid down, so we’ll touch upon the challenges and problems facing our country with new approaches, new concepts of solutions, and we’ll be more attentive towards the opinions of all layers of society.

It’s necessary that we’ll continue to pass laws, which will stem from the interests of our state and our peoples’ welfare.

We should beware sharp angles; we should not evade publicity and debating the main problems in open and comprehensive way. That is the problem of the parliament: be a tribune of collision, consent and cooperation of political real debates, opinions and viewpoints.

We should be able to bring the political disputes from the streets and squares into the parliament, in order to turn them from unfruitful rhetoric into constructive cooperation and effective work.

The democracy and plurality get strengthened in parliamentary debates. Here, the daily responsible work, devotion and responsibility should be valued instead of crowd’s will.

Third: I confide that I’ll do my utmost in order the parliament would become an open and public tribune for the society. I’ll do my utmost that the National Assembly would reach all our compatriots, representatives of social and public different layers. The reason is more than fundamental. We should be ready to work more open and public, listen to and debate the others’ viewpoints, be attentive and tolerant towards dissent and criticism.

Fourth: besides being number one platform of Armenia numerous functions and spheres of responsibility are reserved by Constitution and laws of our country, in the full implementation of which our parliament should add in a consecutive way its political weight and authority in the system of state power and in the society.

National Assembly-Government relationship should be of partnership and cooperation character.

Our work will be much more productive through closer cooperation between state and all institutions of the government.

The National Assembly should exercise its oversight authorities with big volume and persistence in purposeful and effective use of the means of the state budget forming by our citizens’ immediate participation and execution of the state budget.

And finally the fifth: we have many problems to solve not only inside the country, but also in international arena.

In the conditions of modern realities of international relations the role of parliamentary diplomacy and more consistent and full work is more than highlighted.

Under the conditions of initiative foreign policy adopted by the President of the republic we can’t stand apart from consistent protection of the interests of our country. We are obliged to participate more actively in strengthening the international prestige and protecting our country’s interests in comprehensive and consistent way.

Dear colleagues! I would like to say more, about the priorities, too. However, now I’ll be limited with this much. My motto is simple: we are here to work. Nobody is privileged among us.

We should have more responsible and accountable parliament before the voter and own conscience, which will be guided by the interests of state and Motherland.

We would not forget that all of us were chosen to be engaged with the problems of the Republic of Armenia, to solve them, and see our Motherland among the progressive states of the world.

So, let’s carry out together that dignified mission with joint efforts.

Finally, all of us are responsible before our people. We are responsible for our Motherland. We are responsible for the procedure that our country will adopt in the coming years.

And with this conscience of responsibility I express my gratitude for nominating me in the high post of the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and for supporting me.”