ARF-D unveils election platform.

On the first day of its parliament race, the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) introduced its election program proposes 147 steps.

Speaking at the party’s meeting on Monday, a former minister social affairs, Aghvan Vardanyan, said they are not going to stage special shows to open their campaign, but instead - advance ideas likely to win success.

A former minister of agriculture, David Lokyan said the first clause in ARF-D’s election platform calls for a centrist approach by the state and citizens. As for foreign policy priorities, the party seeks to develop the general principles of the Armenia-EU cooperation, maintaining maximum good relations with the CIS countries.

The program, according to him, will focus on social issues, covering two aspects –intensive growth of the gross domestic product and a targeted distribution of welfare.

“Development should be mainly directed at export, ensuring global changes and opening of banks,” he said.

Lokyan further spoke of the situation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Javakhk and several colonies in the Diaspora.

According to Arsen Hambardzumyan, also a former minister of social affairs, the social clauses in ARF-D’s program are aimed at increasing salaries and promoting employment opportunities, as well as enhancing the Armenia’s demography and eradicating poverty.

Hambardzumyan promised that the proposed changes will increase the country’s population by 50,000, ensuring a higher amount of benefits for every other child born to a family.

Ara Nranyan of the ARF-D faction in parliament addressed the provisions on developing small and medium-size businesses, noting that the party has so far been the only political force committed to fulfilling its pre-election pledges.

“The ARF-D has been more committed than the ruling political force,” he said.