2010 cannot be considered a year of achievements, no progress was achieved in solution of the problems and on the contrary negative tendencies prevailed, Stepan Demirchyan, chairman of the oppositional People’s Party of Armenia, told the journalists today.

According to him, increasing migration is among the major problems Armenia is faced with. “A total of 65,000 people left Armenia within recent nine months. Opinion polls show that 40% of citizens wish to leave the country. Besides, poverty rate is increasing. According to official statistics, there are about 1 million people below poverty level in Armenia that is every third resident of the country. A 2.5% economic growth will be registered, but we should remember last year’s 14-15%,” he said, adding that no achievements were registered in foreign political life of the country.

“Developments in the Karabakh peace process are not favorable as well. It was a big mistake to oust Nagorno-Karabakh from negotiations,” Demirchyan added.

Free elections should be held to improve difficult situation the country is faced with, he resumed.