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ARF UNVEILS PRE-ELECTION PLATFORM
asbarez
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
ARF Platform
YEREVAN (ARF Press Office)-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
during a press conference on Wednesday, unveiled the party pre-election
platform. During the same press conference, ARF leaders also announced
the proportional list of candidates for the May 6 parliamentary
elections.
Asbarez obtained the official English translation of the platform's
preamble, which is presented below:
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, being a national, democratic,
socialist and revolutionary political party has always struggled
for the political, economic and socio-cultural interests of both
the individual Armenian and the entire Armenian people. The foreign
and domestic challenges facing Armenia today demand serious and
large-scale systemic changes. On that path, our priorities for
2012-2017 are the following:
Decrease Poverty By 10 Times, Form The Middle Class, Guarantee
Well-To-Do Standards Consider the minimum budget securing a living
as the poverty threshold, guarantee for each citizen the right to
an income no lower than that. Each pensioner shall receive a decent
pension, a dignified salary shall be defined for employees (with
present indexes, the average pension shall be 63.000 drams, currently
being 31.255 drams), the minimum hourly wage shall be no less than
400 dram (currently it is 196 drams); provide decent conditions to
people with disabilities.
Double the GDP, triple the State Budget, create almost two hundred
thousand new jobs; give each working-able person the opportunity
to work.
Make quality health care accessible to everyone; raise the minimum,
annual health care cost per person to 150.000 drams (currently the
financing from the budget does not exceed 21.000 drams).
Each year, provide five to six thousand families with social housing.
For the next five years, restrain the prices for natural gas,
electricity, irrigation and drinking water; for the needy, any future
change shall be correlated with their income.
In accordance to the needs of the economy, the labor market and the
science sector, the middle level professional vocational education
and higher education, as well as preschool and public education
institutions shall be totally free.
Each young person will be able to self-express, will have the
guaranteed right to quality education, to create, to work, and to
have their own business.
Allocate a monthly differentiated amount of benefits ranging from
20.000 to 60.000 drams to each child up to the age of seven, and
provide families with five or more children with free housing.
With an active demographic policy Armenia's annual average population
shall grow by 50.000.
Direct investments towards the cultural sphere; perceive cultural
policy as a precondition for reforms in the country and for the
recovery of the moral and psychological atmosphere; expand the
presentation of Armenian culture to the world.
Form A Steadily Developing, Competitive Economy The passive reformer
state shall take responsibility for and actively participate in the
sustainable development of the country.
Violation of the right to ownership right shall be excluded; an
environment of economic free competition shall be formed.
In order to ensure equal distribution, a full-fledged system of
progressive income tax and taxing of super profits, luxury and wealth
shall be implemented (a single residence of more than 750 square
meters per family shall be progressively taxed).
Implement a monetary and budgetary policy aimed at diversification
of the economy, at economic growth and at strengthening of local
production.
Investments by Diasporan and transnational corporations shall be
attracted especially towards innovative and hi-tech production
projects.
Air-travel prices shall be reduced, which will boost tourism and will
create the conditions for affordable free movement of people.
In order to ensure the country's food security, a comprehensive
state agricultural support program of subsidies, grants and licensing
shall be implemented, increasing the annual state budget agricultural
support to 60 billion drams (at the moment, it does not exceed the
amount of 10 billion).
The development of the regions shall be realized based on a concept
of multi-centered and even resettlement.
Economic projects shall be realized exclusively in accordance to
environmental research results and taking into account the public
interest. Residential construction will be prohibited in the center
of Yerevan, while green areas and water surfaces will be tripled.
Build A Contemporary National-Democratic State Pursue constitutional
reforms aiming at a parliamentary governance system, a new
administrative-territorial division of Armenia, the reduction of the
number of Members of Parliament, the election of regional governors,
as well as the strengthening of the judicial power's independence.
The non-democratic system leading to the self-perpetuation of the
authorities shall be completely eradicated. An electoral system
providing the possibility to change regime/power shall be established.
An authorities-opposition political unified system shall be developed,
influential levers shall be given to the political opposition in
order to control, restrain the authorities and to engage in real
anti-corruption struggle.
Participatory and direct democracy shall be strengthened and expanded
by the state.
A transparent personnel policy, based on individual abilities and
experience, will be implemented.
Superposition of political and economic functions in state
administration or local self-administration work shall be excluded.
Establish A National-State Course Adequate To The Present Challenges In
the era of globalization and of a rapidly changing planet, the state's
progress and development shall be realized by keeping good-neighborly
and mutually beneficial relations with all states, without conceding
and risking pan-national achievements, goals and interests.
The settlement of the Mountainous Karabakh conflict shall be realized
without retreating from the Artsakh people's will as already expressed
by popular referenda.
Armenia's signature shall be recalled from the Armeno-Turkish
protocols. In the process of normalizing the relations between Armenia
and Turkey, the pan-national objectives and the prospect of reinstating
the historical justice will not be sacrificed.
The realization of the political, socio-economic and cultural rights of
Javakhk will be supported by the state and the powers of all Armenians.
Considering that Nakhijevan has been annexed by Azerbaijan, it is
important to keep allow the consciousness of its Armenian belonging.
The fighting efficiency, discipline and modernity of the Armenian army,
guarantor of Armenia's independence and security, shall be increased.
The leading principle of Armenia's foreign policy shall be that the
state is the guarantor of the national goals not only for its citizens,
but for all Armenians. Everything should be done in order to engage
the Diaspora in the statehood process.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun is organized,
has the willpower and determination to lead our people towards a New
Armenia, a Free, Fair, Well-to-do society.
We believe in a Just State and in the creative power of the free
citizen.
This is the guarantee to building a powerful Armenia, to having a
proud citizen.
We are determined. We need your vote and confidence.
asbarez
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
ARF Platform
YEREVAN (ARF Press Office)-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
during a press conference on Wednesday, unveiled the party pre-election
platform. During the same press conference, ARF leaders also announced
the proportional list of candidates for the May 6 parliamentary
elections.
Asbarez obtained the official English translation of the platform's
preamble, which is presented below:
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, being a national, democratic,
socialist and revolutionary political party has always struggled
for the political, economic and socio-cultural interests of both
the individual Armenian and the entire Armenian people. The foreign
and domestic challenges facing Armenia today demand serious and
large-scale systemic changes. On that path, our priorities for
2012-2017 are the following:
Decrease Poverty By 10 Times, Form The Middle Class, Guarantee
Well-To-Do Standards Consider the minimum budget securing a living
as the poverty threshold, guarantee for each citizen the right to
an income no lower than that. Each pensioner shall receive a decent
pension, a dignified salary shall be defined for employees (with
present indexes, the average pension shall be 63.000 drams, currently
being 31.255 drams), the minimum hourly wage shall be no less than
400 dram (currently it is 196 drams); provide decent conditions to
people with disabilities.
Double the GDP, triple the State Budget, create almost two hundred
thousand new jobs; give each working-able person the opportunity
to work.
Make quality health care accessible to everyone; raise the minimum,
annual health care cost per person to 150.000 drams (currently the
financing from the budget does not exceed 21.000 drams).
Each year, provide five to six thousand families with social housing.
For the next five years, restrain the prices for natural gas,
electricity, irrigation and drinking water; for the needy, any future
change shall be correlated with their income.
In accordance to the needs of the economy, the labor market and the
science sector, the middle level professional vocational education
and higher education, as well as preschool and public education
institutions shall be totally free.
Each young person will be able to self-express, will have the
guaranteed right to quality education, to create, to work, and to
have their own business.
Allocate a monthly differentiated amount of benefits ranging from
20.000 to 60.000 drams to each child up to the age of seven, and
provide families with five or more children with free housing.
With an active demographic policy Armenia's annual average population
shall grow by 50.000.
Direct investments towards the cultural sphere; perceive cultural
policy as a precondition for reforms in the country and for the
recovery of the moral and psychological atmosphere; expand the
presentation of Armenian culture to the world.
Form A Steadily Developing, Competitive Economy The passive reformer
state shall take responsibility for and actively participate in the
sustainable development of the country.
Violation of the right to ownership right shall be excluded; an
environment of economic free competition shall be formed.
In order to ensure equal distribution, a full-fledged system of
progressive income tax and taxing of super profits, luxury and wealth
shall be implemented (a single residence of more than 750 square
meters per family shall be progressively taxed).
Implement a monetary and budgetary policy aimed at diversification
of the economy, at economic growth and at strengthening of local
production.
Investments by Diasporan and transnational corporations shall be
attracted especially towards innovative and hi-tech production
projects.
Air-travel prices shall be reduced, which will boost tourism and will
create the conditions for affordable free movement of people.
In order to ensure the country's food security, a comprehensive
state agricultural support program of subsidies, grants and licensing
shall be implemented, increasing the annual state budget agricultural
support to 60 billion drams (at the moment, it does not exceed the
amount of 10 billion).
The development of the regions shall be realized based on a concept
of multi-centered and even resettlement.
Economic projects shall be realized exclusively in accordance to
environmental research results and taking into account the public
interest. Residential construction will be prohibited in the center
of Yerevan, while green areas and water surfaces will be tripled.
Build A Contemporary National-Democratic State Pursue constitutional
reforms aiming at a parliamentary governance system, a new
administrative-territorial division of Armenia, the reduction of the
number of Members of Parliament, the election of regional governors,
as well as the strengthening of the judicial power's independence.
The non-democratic system leading to the self-perpetuation of the
authorities shall be completely eradicated. An electoral system
providing the possibility to change regime/power shall be established.
An authorities-opposition political unified system shall be developed,
influential levers shall be given to the political opposition in
order to control, restrain the authorities and to engage in real
anti-corruption struggle.
Participatory and direct democracy shall be strengthened and expanded
by the state.
A transparent personnel policy, based on individual abilities and
experience, will be implemented.
Superposition of political and economic functions in state
administration or local self-administration work shall be excluded.
Establish A National-State Course Adequate To The Present Challenges In
the era of globalization and of a rapidly changing planet, the state's
progress and development shall be realized by keeping good-neighborly
and mutually beneficial relations with all states, without conceding
and risking pan-national achievements, goals and interests.
The settlement of the Mountainous Karabakh conflict shall be realized
without retreating from the Artsakh people's will as already expressed
by popular referenda.
Armenia's signature shall be recalled from the Armeno-Turkish
protocols. In the process of normalizing the relations between Armenia
and Turkey, the pan-national objectives and the prospect of reinstating
the historical justice will not be sacrificed.
The realization of the political, socio-economic and cultural rights of
Javakhk will be supported by the state and the powers of all Armenians.
Considering that Nakhijevan has been annexed by Azerbaijan, it is
important to keep allow the consciousness of its Armenian belonging.
The fighting efficiency, discipline and modernity of the Armenian army,
guarantor of Armenia's independence and security, shall be increased.
The leading principle of Armenia's foreign policy shall be that the
state is the guarantor of the national goals not only for its citizens,
but for all Armenians. Everything should be done in order to engage
the Diaspora in the statehood process.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun is organized,
has the willpower and determination to lead our people towards a New
Armenia, a Free, Fair, Well-to-do society.
We believe in a Just State and in the creative power of the free
citizen.
This is the guarantee to building a powerful Armenia, to having a
proud citizen.
We are determined. We need your vote and confidence.