Serzh Sargsyan: Under no circumstances should a country turn into a prison for its citizens

• Monday, January 21, 11:39

"Migration and employment is a problem. And, unfortunately, it is the biggest problem Armenia has faced," President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service ahead of the presidential election of Feb 18.

"I have already said that under no circumstances should a country turn into a prison for its citizens. That is, artificial closing of borders, artificial obstacles may lead to even worse, disastrous consequences. We have one way to follow i.e. we must create such conditions in Armenia that would be similar to those in abroad that attract our citizens. I don't agree with the opinion that Armenia lacks justice and freedom, which makes our citizens leave. Look at the countries our citizens leave for. They do not leave for the countries with more freedom and justice. They seek higher wages, which is a real problem in Armenia," the president said.

The president said that there is no problem with employment in Armenia; there is problem with highly paid jobs. "We have reactivated the Vanadzor Chemical Combine and could hardly find people that would fulfill elementary jobs. There are up-to-date plants in Armenia that need workers. The salary is not high, indeed.  No one in Armenia wants to work for a salary lower than 150,000 drams. On the one hand, it is good that the people's demands grow. It is also good that the people will work for 130-140,000 drams in case if they have no better opportunity. On the other hand, it is a matter of concern, because if people work to the utmost, they should be paid at least twice as much as they are offered now, " the president said.

Even if 20,000 people leave Armenia annually, it is a very big loss. However, he said: "We don't lose them," "Yes, perhaps some small part of them is lost...But in the main they remain Armenians, but unfortunately work for the enhancement of other countries, other economies."