Galust Sahakyan, President of the Republican Party of Armenia's parliamentary faction, stated at a press conference held today that during the past year his party had successfully implemented most of what it had set out to do and that it could have accomplished more if not for the political unrest and tensions that were present. Mr. Sahakyan expressed his belief that the foundations exist for the government to meet all the economic and financial challenges the nation will face in 2009. When asked how the upcoming January PACE session might impact Armenia, Mr. Shakyan commented that, "There is always the concern in our country that everything is hanging over our heads. I do not think that any drive to punish us, wherever it comes from, will be able to halt the path we have set out on."