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During the debate of the budget performance the deputies gave speeches, some of which were of a political nature. In their speech, the parliamentarians touched upon the borders of the Republic of Armenia, their security, the army, education, the possibilities of recognizing the independence of Artsakh and other topics.

The deputies of the Civil Contract Faction Vahagn Aleksanyan and Sergey Bagratyan spoke about the polarized society during their speeches. Sergey Bagratyan noted that everything should be done to eliminate it, because it hinders the progress of the country. The deputy called on at least to remove extreme hate speech from the NA tribune and to release hatred in the country.

The deputy of Armenia Faction Zemfira Mirzoeva also touched upon the work done by the state in terms of alleviating the problems of the national minority and considered it insufficient. The MP described as negative the fact that there is no section regarding the problems of national minorities and their support in the annual report of the Government.

The deputy of the same Faction Lilit Galstyan also spoke about the field of education. In particular, the deputy referred to the voluntary attestation of teachers and mentioned that the salary increase should not be connected with passing the attestation. The opposition deputy noted that the fact that few teachers have been certified since the launch of the programme shows the mistake of the policy.

The speech of the deputy of the Civil Contract Faction focused on the topic of social services, round-the-clock care facilities and care facilities for the elderly. The MP touched upon the development of human capital, the investments made in that sense and reaffirmed the idea that independent life centers should be created in the country and personal assistant services introduced.

The deputy of Armenia Faction Artur Khachatryan accused the Government of turning Armenia from a military-industrial country into a “banana republic,’ in response to which the Vice President of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan said in his speech that the Head of Armenia alliance Robert Kocharyan signed a programme on Privatization of State Property in 2001, according to which 932 research institutes and state institutions were closed.

“Armenia has quadrupled the financing of scientific research. A huge part of our defense needs is produced in our country. In the 2000s, you didn’t have that will, that’s why you didn’t do the same,” the Vice President of the National Assembly said and reaffirmed that he supports the policy of the Government.

They also talked about supporting our compatriots from Artsakh. The deputy from Armenia Faction Gegham Nazaryan stated that they have great expectations from the National Assembly of Armenia in Artsakh. There is a problem of supporting and helping them, because no one has eliminated the fact that the Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of Artsakh.

“I don’t want us to go to extremes and allow our children to criticize what we did today in the same way we are now criticizing the actions of 1918-1920,” the deputy said.

The deputy Khachatur Sukiasyan highlighted the numerical indices. “In the history of Armenia’s independence, until 2017, the country collected AMD equivalent to 2.5 billion dollars. From 2017 until now, the equivalent of 5 billion AMD has been collected. Last year you held demonstrations that caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to the country. Didn’t you think that a bankrupt country could not defend itself?” the deputy told the opposition.

The deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Arpine Davoyan also recalled Garegin Nzhdeh’s words during her speech. “The members of Armenian Revolutionary Federation did not become Armenian Revolutionizes’ Federation, but remained Armenian Revolutionary Federation,” in response to which the deputy of Armenia Faction Artsvik Minasyan said. “The political power that has existed for 133 years continues to exist. Try to live 133 months, then speak again.”

The President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan addressed the speech of the opposition deputy with an extraordinary speech. He suggested the opposition having dialogue with the Government.

“During the 133 years of your party, you have cooperated with all the powers, until now we still cannot clear the result of your cooperation. You are not an opposition, you occupy the field with the money of Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan and do not allow the opposition to form. We need an opposition,” Alen Simonyan said and addressed the representatives of the opposition factions. “If you want to make an impact, if you are concerned about the interests of Armenia, you should come and talk to us, we are ready to come as well. After a difficult situation, the people of Armenia have chosen the Civil Contract Faction again, if you want to help the country, let’s talk. You sometimes make such calculations that we don’t even understand where you get these thoughts from. The processes will not stop, we have the mandate of the RA people, it exists until the opposite is not proven. Come and tell us that you have this or that proposal, submit questions: this is my suggestion. In all other cases, you will remain on the sidelines.”

Babken Tunyan also spoke about the numerical indices of performance. The parliamentarian considered the idea expressed by the opposition deputy, according to which, the 12.6% economic growth fell from the sky, to be groundless.

Babken Tunyan touched upon the idea that the expenses planned for the security of the Prime Minister of the country have increased. “If the expenses for Nikol Pashinyan’s security have increased, then you are responsible and guilty for it. Those costs increase in case of increased risks,” Babken Tunyan mentioned.