KAJARAN. – The Government of Armenian did not cut any social program during the global financial downturn. The ruling Republican Party’s presidential candidate—and incumbent President—Serzh Sargsyan said this on Wednesday during his talk with the voters at Kajaran city of Syunik Region, Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter informs.     

Responding to a pensioner’s query as to why the government did not double the pensions as it had promised back in 2008, the president noted that the times were difficult for Armenia.   

“The March 1, 2008 [tragedy in capital city Yerevan] divided the country into several parts, and great willpower was required to unite the society again,” Sargsyan stated.    

This was followed by the South Ossetian war in August 2008 and the global financial crisis. “The stability of our closest neighbor and ally was in jeopardy,” the Armenian president added.  

And the economic crisis did not circumvent any country. Even though the developed countries were forced to cut their social spending, Armenia did not resort to this measure.  

“We did not cut any social program; instead, we even increased the pensions,” the incumbent president concluded.