1.The goals of the political coalition
Based on the results of the February 19 2008 presidential elections, having a purpose to guarantee the further development of the Republic of Armenia, formation of environment of tolerance and social activity in the society the below signed parties (hence the coalition parties) in support of the RA President establish a political coalition for the sake of:
-forming an efficient and accountable government enjoying the support of the majority of voters,
-improving the and reforming the mechanism of human right protection,
-forming a joint governance with the reconciliation of the parties’ pre-election campaigns,
-conducting bold and realistic economic reforms to further develop the achievement of the past years and promoting to the stability of the country and improving the quality of life of citizens,
-resisting the internal and external challenges of the RA
The parties of the coalition ensure their will and determination for the implementation of the coalition and submit a political responsibility for the activity of the government.
2. Principles of the activity of the political coalition
The parties of the political coalition by guiding from the mutual respect, tolerance, solidarity, principles of solving contradictions through negotiations and discussions are obliged to function based on the requirements of this agreement in collaboration with the RA President. All the parties involved in the coalition will bear a joint and individual responsibility for the ruling authority and first of all, for the activity of the Government. In the meantime, the next section of the agreement regarding the “Principles of the Political Coalition” adds that cooperation within the frameworks of the coalition will be implemented “in conjunction with one another as well as with the President of the Republic of Armenia”.
3. Main priorities of the political coalition
The main priorities of the political coalition are as follows,
-completion of the process of conforming the RA legislation to the newly amended constitution, formation of legislation conforming to European standards,
-political systematization of the full application of check and balances system of the branches of power,
-development of a multi-party system providing political competition and based on democratic principles, expansion and strengthening of the activity of the parliamentary opposition,
-provision on favorable conditions for the development of a civil society and implementation of programs providing efficient functioning of public unions and structures,
-strengthening of freedom of speech, independence of mass media,
-essential increase of trust of the public to electoral processes and consistent implantation of programs aimed at that, specifically increasing the role of political forces in that process,
-investment and application of mechanisms of the National Security Council in the state power system,
-increase of the productivity of the state governance system, expansion of the functions aimed at controlling the civil society supervision, accountability of state officials and statesmen when submitting certain positions,
-completion of the reforms of the state service by forming an honest and efficient governance system by providing differentiation of political and economic interests,
-stable and secure development of the economy aimed at the fight against shady economy, increase of the incomes of citizens and more integrated mechanisms of distribution, provision of free and fair competition conditions, anti-monopoly tangible policy,
-stimulation of exportation,
-consistent activity of supporting the development of small and medium businesses,
-development and implementation of the national plan aimed at agriculture development,
-completion o reconstruction of the earthquake zone,
-essential decrease of unemployment rates aimed at increasing the number of workplaces by the state, increase of pensions, salaries and subsidies,
-implementation of the social policy aimed at poverty reduction,
-legal definition and formation of the specifics of local governments and state governance bodies of Yerevan,
-investment of the judicial code aimed at conforming to the European standards and increasing the trust of citizens to the courts,
-wide and effective fight against corruption by fully involving the civil society,
-rule of law, full provision of the public order and exclusion of the psychological environment of impunity in the society,
-more productive integration to the international community,
-development of the Armenia-Diaspora connection and essential increase of the mechanisms of relationships on behalf of the RA citizens and all the Armenians in the world.
4. Responsibilities of the parties of the coalition
The parties of the coalition are responsible for:
a. making every effort for the effective implementation of the coalition government,
b. providing the requirements of the coalition agreement consented by the parties of the coalition through their representatives in ministerial positions.
c. no initiating such steps, which may directly or indirectly endanger the implementation of the goals of the given coalition.
5. Order of organizing the activity of the political coalition
The document clearly defines the procedure of organizing the activity of the newly developing quadrilateral political coalition. According to it, the draft documents of conceptual and strategic character are subject to preliminary discussion among the coalition parties which should spare no effort for elaborating a joint attitude. Upon the proposal of any of the parties, any issue concerning the activity of the National Assembly and the Government may become subject to discussion. For the implementation of all these goals, the parties shall set up a coordinating council, based on the principle of equal representation.
6. Dates and terms of the political coalition activity.
The goals and principles enshrined in the document will be in force till the end of the activities of the fourth National Assembly. That’s to say, till the next elections to be held on the republican scale, the 4 political factions assuming a political responsibility for the ruling government, commit themselves to working jointly and unanimously. The agreement shall act at the moment of signing it and will be acting till one of the parties deflects from it.
RPA chairman Serzh Sargsyan
Prosperous Armenia chairman Gagik Tsarukyan
Legal State chairman Artur Baghdasaryan
ARF SB representative Armen Rustamyan