Yerevan /Mediamax/. During the working visit to Switzerland, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had a meeting with members of Switzerland-Armenia Chamber of Commerce and Swiss entrepreneurs.

You can read some of his remarks below.

On corruption

Fighting against corruption means creating a culture where people do not tolerate corruption. It must become our culture, just like in some European countries including Switzerland. It requires certain changes in the judiciary, and it is a significant challenge.

Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

On open society

When you start tackling corruption, you have to shift from oligarchic economy to a more open society. People are more open in terms of politics than they were two years ago. Such a society started forming in Armenia, when young people started dreaming that they could be successful.

On uncertainty

I always believed that uncertainty creates opportunity. If there is predictability but you can see how the situation will develop, you are going to benefit from it. Armenia’s path amid uncertainty is development. There is only one way to succeed – work hard to progress and use the opportunities you get, because we are not just limited in predictions in terms of politics and economy, but we are also standing at a crossroad of technological development, which people call the fourth industrial revolution.

Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

On environment

We have to stand tall and take care of nature. Now, we are looking for ways to use solar energy more efficiently. I am proud to say that thanks to the efforts we made last year, 400 solar stations will be built in Armenia. This is just the first step. We can do more.

Photo: Press service of the Armenian President

Armenia supplies 6 times more water than Armenians actually use. Many people envy us, because water is more valuable than oil. Who is going to be more powerful in the future, those with clean air, environment, mountains, healthy food and lifestyle or those unable to use clean natural resources and predict their own future? We have to invest in environment, in clean water and food. It must become Armenia’s business card.