Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received newly elected President of the Armenian Football Federation (AFF) Armen Melikbekyan. The Head of State congratulated him on being elected President of the Football Federation of Armenia and wished him success in the efficient use of the FFA's potential in Armenia and in collaboration with international organizations.
"The Football Federation operates independently of the Government, but I do think that having a common understanding creates great opportunities for cooperation," said the PM.
Armen Melikbekyan thanked the PM for congratulations and said that they would do everything to keep the Armenian football away from corruption.
"Our strategy for 2025 sets out our vision to make Armenia more recognizable through football. That is our vision, and we will go that way. The vision also highlights the successful performance of various national teams and the national team in the finals of the European and World Championships. Of course, this is an ambitious plan by 2025, but we will do our utmost to make it possible for infrastructures to develop in Armenia and make football truly a national game that will be for everyone and not for people,” said the FFA President.
The Prime Minister said that a new, unprecedented model of football was in development in Armenia. "We had no precedent in Armenia because the presidents of the Football Federation were either people closely related to the authorities, or subordinates, while football should be a branch of the economy, as a direction of public life, as a development of youth and children opportunities.
We are doing everything to develop football in the regions, and you can count on the government's support in the issues were we can offer aid to the Federation," said Pashinyan.
According to him, football and sport should not be politicized, should not serve the ambitions of certain groups, and the athletes should not be allowed to become a background for someone's self-promotion.
