Recognition of Artsakh – One of the Steps to Join Armenia: Vitali Balasanyan

Lurer.com interviewed a candidate of presidential elections of Artsakh Vitali Balasanyan, who informed us about the process of campaign.

Mr. Balasanyan, who does the campaign proceed? Do campaign offices function? And what means are applied to deliver your messages and platforms to the electorate?

My campaign proceeds in a quite active manner. I hold meetings with constituencies in the regions, Stepanakert and neighborhoods. We have campaign offices both in the capital and in the regions. Irrespective of this, campaign offices don’t play a very big role. We signify the campaign teams that actively work in the neighborhoods, villages, small towns. We also have a range of innovative methods of campaign, which we are not going to disclose because of tactical reasons. Besides that, we are very active on the Internet. We have our website and have pages in various social networks.

What sectors does the pre-election campaign include? What are you most focused on?

The main part of the platform relates to security, defense and social-economic situation. In the security and defense section I signify army reforms, in particular, strengthening of the contact line, exclusion of vulnerability of our soldiers and the ending of the war.

Today soldiers die because of frontline war, which is unacceptable. In foreign policy, I signify the international recognition of Artsakh. The recognition of Artsakh is one of the key steps of annexing NKR to Armenia. It is important to return NKR to the negotiation process as a conflicting side.

In the social-economic block the increase of pensions and benefits is a priority for us, which should be at least equivalent to the social basket. Our budget allows us to do so. All we need to do is wisely distribute the wealth and avoid pompous expenses. Among the priority issues I can specify the development of infrastructures, roads and super fast Internet. We also intend to stimulate foreign investment.

Do you encounter obstacles during the campaign?

I haven’t encountered any obstacles during the campaign. Days ago the head of the campaign office of Bako Sahakyan, the Prime Minister of NKR Arayik Harutyunyan ensured that they had warned all the law-enforcing bodies, state institutes to follow the rule of law.