Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed Chief of the Prime Minister’s Staff Lilit Makunts to the Staff.

The Prime Minister first thanked Arayik Harutyunyan for her work as the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, noting that over the past 5 years he satisfactorily regulated the Prime Minister’s working priorities. “And now, in the next stage, Ms. Makunts must regulate these priorities. The Chief of the Prime Minister’s Staff is the status that is most directly related to the Prime Minister’s work priorities. I believe that during this period we should continue the work, with some refinement of priorities,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister wished Arayik Harutyunyan success in his activities as a deputy of the National Assembly and added that it is very important for a public political figure.

The Prime Minister recalled that Lilit Makunts was a Cabinet member in 2018, held the position of Minister of Culture, then moved to the parliament, was the head of the “My Step” parliamentary faction, was the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States, and then the Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister. “Ms. Makunts should now also head the Prime Minister’s staff, and I am convinced that our two colleagues, like in their previous status, will now also have their very significant and visible contribution to the further development of the Republic of Armenia,” the Prime Minister said.

Arayik Harutyunyan thanked the Prime Minister for his assessments and joint work and support. “Over the years, I personally and the staff have done everything to make the Prime Minister’s work easier and advance the issues that have been put before the staff. I think that we have a fairly good system in the staff, and for that I want to thank our colleagues gathered here, each of whom has made their contribution to this matter. I am confident that they will ensure continuity. We have implemented the transition phase, and Mrs. Makunts is currently well informed about the processes that are taking place, and I am ready to continue to support,” Arayik Harutyunyan noted.

In turn, Lilit Makunts thanked Nikol Pashinyan for the trust and noted that she will do her best to justify the Prime Minister’s expectations. “I would also like to thank Mr. Harutyunyan for setting a very high bar for his successors in this position and for the support he has provided during this transition phase. I wish you all the best and new success. I am convinced that in any capacity you will play an unsurpassed role," said the newly appointed Chief of the Prime Minister's Staff. At the same time, Lilit Makunts expressed confidence that further work with the Prime Minister's staff will be constructive and effective.

Summing up, the Prime Minister noted that a lot of work is expected in the near future, it is part of the big agenda that they had. “I formulate that big agenda as the agenda of the sustainability of Armenia’s statehood, but, of course, the next five years open up new opportunities for us and bring with them new challenges. I hope that we will be able to spot and realize the opportunities and manage the challenges. We are already an experienced government. And this brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the accumulated experience is, of course, a resource that we must be able to apply. And the disadvantage is that the routine nature of this work can really lead to a certain numbness, and we must do everything to avoid that numbness. I am convinced that we will be able to do this together, including with the support of parliamentary colleagues and by constantly reviewing our work,” the Prime MInister said.