Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, in an interview with the Armenian branch of the Sputnik news agency, said that Armenia must think long-term to preserve the viability of the Armenian state.

Here’s the interview:

Sputnik Armenia: The Armenian authorities have announced the need to implement another constitutional reform. According to them, a referendum should be held in the fall to return to the semi-presidential horse of power. How do you feel about that initiative?

Sarkissian: Any initiative aimed at systemic change is only welcome. I have said many times that the current Constitution, written in 2015, does not allow for the establishment of a balanced system of government. The lion's share of power belongs to the executive branch, represented by the prime minister, while other institutions lack serious restraint mechanisms. Whereas real democracy is not the power of the majority or the minority, but the balanced system of power, which must govern the national potential correctly and effectively.

As for the return to the semi-presidential version of government, it is necessary to emphasize the following: the important thing is not the egg, but its content. The current government is also not so bad in its official features, it sounds very inspiring - a parliamentary republic. But when we start analyzing its structure, it turns out that it is far from parliamentarism. The current Constitution is a vivid proof of that. So, when it comes to substantive reforms, I support them, and if it is going to be with the "add-ons" formula, then, as you know, the amount will not change.

Sputnik Armenia: Parliamentary elections are scheduled for June. The constitutional reform proposed by the authorities is expected to be put to a referendum in the fall. Don't you think that in this case the sequence is illogical? If there is a need for changes in the Constitution" and the Electoral Code in the country, then what is the point of the elections in June?

Sarkissian: Every political process has its own logic. In this case, the sequence in which systemic reforms are carried out, which requires significant, qualitative-quantitative resources, is logical. Only because of these reforms, including the amendment of the Constitution, it is possible to hold elections that will be substantive. Otherwise, we have a situation where elections are held for the sake of elections. I do not see any tools here to get the country out of the political, economic, social, most importantly, moral and psychological crisis. Meanwhile, this is our task - to "launch" the state and the people in a new way. And all our actions, I think, should be aimed at that.

Sputnik Armenia: Regardless of the election results, the new or old Cabinet of Ministers needs to address the mature issues that predetermined the dividing line of the Armenian elite. Can you list the three priority issues that need immediate and urgent solution?

Sarkissian: The main task is to restore the viability of the state and to create a road map, which will allow starting the substantive process of national and state-building. This may seem vague to you, but the reality is that individual problems have always arisen and will continue to arise when there are no solutions to fundamental problems.

That is why we live "from fire to fire". We always think about why fires break out, how to put them out. Such a philosophy of existence today is destructive, it leads to the abyss, it is necessary to move from the mode of existence to the preventive creative mode. This means that Armenia must be able to anticipate and prevent both internal and external threats.

Sputnik Armenia: The autumn war dramatically changed the situation around Karabakh. But, in fact, globally, the conflict with Baku has not been resolved. NKR remains unrecognized. Occupied territories remained: enclaves in the north and south. Will the current, new or renewed authorities solve these problems one day?

Sarkissian: I have said many times that the final solution to this conflict is possible only after analyzing its main causes and overcoming their consequences. And those reasons are multi-layered.

The fact is that the immature, short-sighted national-geographical policies of the early Soviet leadership created a slow-moving bomb. It exploded in the late 1980s and led to a bloody war of ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population. One can understand that the war was not the choice of the Armenian side. It was imposed by the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Independence was not the simple wish of the Artsakh Armenians either. On the one hand, it became an indisputable tool of survival, on the other hand, a guarantee to curb possible Azerbaijani aggression. How can you find real settlement models without considering this?

There are problems. By the way, this was also announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to historical peculiarities, including the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Sputnik Armenia: You are one of the leading figures of the Armenian state, the most experienced politician, who is known and respected in Russia. In your opinion, what is missing in the Armenian-Russian bilateral relations today?

Sarkissian: I think that Armenian-Russian relations should develop based on the "mission for two" formula. For example, the first mission, in my opinion, is to create conditions for strengthening peace and stability in our region, in Greater Eurasia, all over the world.

The Armenian-Russian peoples have gone through many historical trials, including two world wars, which is why they are most interested in building a new system of international relations that will be able to adequately respond to the challenges and threats ahead.

Russia is a big nuclear power with a statehood with ancient traditions, Armenia is a small country with a huge potential. We are talking about the diaspora, which is very well integrated into the public and political life of many countries of the world, from Moscow, San Francisco to Canberra ... Moreover, the world is entering an era when networked states will come to the fore, and Armenia has all such features.

In turn, Russia must decide what kind of Armenia it wants to see.

The first is a weak, extremely dependent country, where there is a constant struggle between narrow groups of influence, liberals, nationalists, radical populists who seek the favor of their big brother. The second is a strong Armenia, which uses all its resources and potential to strengthen its prestige and its ally, to advance its interests. But it is only fair if both take the protection of their ally's interests as their own. And that's when those relationships are based on trust: predictability.