An Artsakh-Italian vocational school will open in Shushi, former PM, and the head of the Free Homeland party and Artsakh presidential candidate Arayik Harutyunyan told repoters on Wednesday in Yerevan.

According to him, the Italian school will complement the existing French school: the French help in the training of builders, and the Italians will teach design, wood processing, mosaics, hotel business. There is also a proposal for a major investment from Germany in the field of horticulture and agriculture.

The current Armenian authorities render all possible assistance in the development of the Artsakh economy, he said.

“We are talking about major investment programs, from armament to solving social issues of the people and the army,” Harutyunyan noted.

He recalled that the development of the economy of Armenia and Artsakh is directly related to security. According to him, there will be problems if in the next five years it is not possible to ensure serious economic growth The probability of war can be ruled out if Armenia has at least 8% of economic growth, Harutyunyan said. There are prerequisites for economic growth, he added.

Former Artsakh PM could not resist criticism. According to him, Artsakh cannot use the water of the Sarsang Reservoir for irrigation due to the fact that the distribution network is under enemy control. The water goes to Azerbaijan. Attempts are now being made to change the situation, which will allow irrigating 10-15 tons of ha. This is an important economic project for Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan noted.