Tatoyan says strong science is key to national security and growth

Armenia must invest in science if it hopes to build a strong state, military and economy, prime ministerial candidate Arman Tatoyan said ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

“If we do not have strong science, we will not have a strong state, military or economy,” said Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Wings of Unity party.

Tatoyan argued that Armenia’s greatest wealth lies not in its natural resources or infrastructure but in the intellectual potential of its people.

“Unfortunately, for many years, scientists in Armenia have been forced to struggle not with scientific challenges, but with everyday hardships,” he said. “Many became disillusioned, left the scientific field, or left the country altogether.”

He said Armenia should ensure that scientists are protected and provided with competitive salaries and dignified working conditions, describing support for research and innovation as a national priority.

Tatoyan also praised the Armenian National Academy of Sciences as “one of the symbols of Armenian scientific thought and the country’s advancement” and an inseparable part of the national identity.