Armenia's new foreign minister: struggle for Artsakh shifts from battlefield to diplomatic one
19.11.2020,
15:33
Armenia's new foreign minister Ara Ayvazyan said today that ' the heroic struggle for Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is gradually shifting from the battlefield to the diplomatic field, and that 'everyone is well aware of the enormous responsibility they bear before the state, people and history.'
YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. Armenia's new foreign minister Ara Ayvazyan said today that ' the heroic struggle for Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is gradually shifting from the battlefield to the diplomatic field, and that 'everyone is well aware of the enormous responsibility they bear before the state, people and history.'
Ara Ayvazyan, 51, was appointed to the post on November 18 replacing his former chief Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Foreign Ministry on Thursday to introduce the newly appointed Minister Ara Ayvazyan to the Foreign Ministry staff.
“The ministry and our diplomatic missions abroad will continue to maximize our potential, the 30 years of professional experience, dedication and determination to confront these challenges and pave the way for dignified and effective solutions,” Ayvazyan said.
Recalling the well-known axiom that diplomacy is the art of the possible, Ayvazyan noted that “yesterday, today and tomorrow we have done and are doing everything possible”.
“I am sure that at this stage we will try to do the impossible. Mr. Prime Minister, I want to assure you, our people, citizens of Armenia, Artsakh, our sisters and brothers in the Diaspora that everyone here understands that the present and future of our country depends on them,” Ayvazyan said.
Pashinyan stressed the importance of formulating clear-cut tasks, because' sometimes problems arise in formulating them.'
“All this should be analyzed, conclusions should be drawn, we should not be afraid to be bold in these conclusions, to be tough towards ourselves, so that we can get out of all this stronger,” the Prime Minister noted, wishing Ayvazyan success in his future activities.
He also thanked former Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan for the work done during this difficult period.
The ex-Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the Foreign Ministry has a very strong potential to advance the national agenda and state interests of Armenia in this crucial period.
“Foreign policy is a continuation of domestic policy, and our diplomatic potential and capabilities are most successful when our rear is strong and we can appear before the world as a strong, confident state and people. We are going through a very crucial period. I have no doubt that this period will be decisive for our people in terms of strengthening our country, ensuring a free and prosperous life in Armenia,” Mnatsakanyan said.
Ayvazyan, a career diplomat, had served as Armenia's ambassador to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama. In October 2020, he was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister.
On November 9, the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities in Artsakh. According to the document, the sides stopped at their positions; the town of Shushi, Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin regions pass over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of the 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged ($1 - 497.38 drams). -0-
Ara Ayvazyan, 51, was appointed to the post on November 18 replacing his former chief Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Foreign Ministry on Thursday to introduce the newly appointed Minister Ara Ayvazyan to the Foreign Ministry staff.
“The ministry and our diplomatic missions abroad will continue to maximize our potential, the 30 years of professional experience, dedication and determination to confront these challenges and pave the way for dignified and effective solutions,” Ayvazyan said.
Recalling the well-known axiom that diplomacy is the art of the possible, Ayvazyan noted that “yesterday, today and tomorrow we have done and are doing everything possible”.
“I am sure that at this stage we will try to do the impossible. Mr. Prime Minister, I want to assure you, our people, citizens of Armenia, Artsakh, our sisters and brothers in the Diaspora that everyone here understands that the present and future of our country depends on them,” Ayvazyan said.
Pashinyan stressed the importance of formulating clear-cut tasks, because' sometimes problems arise in formulating them.'
“All this should be analyzed, conclusions should be drawn, we should not be afraid to be bold in these conclusions, to be tough towards ourselves, so that we can get out of all this stronger,” the Prime Minister noted, wishing Ayvazyan success in his future activities.
He also thanked former Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan for the work done during this difficult period.
The ex-Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the Foreign Ministry has a very strong potential to advance the national agenda and state interests of Armenia in this crucial period.
“Foreign policy is a continuation of domestic policy, and our diplomatic potential and capabilities are most successful when our rear is strong and we can appear before the world as a strong, confident state and people. We are going through a very crucial period. I have no doubt that this period will be decisive for our people in terms of strengthening our country, ensuring a free and prosperous life in Armenia,” Mnatsakanyan said.
Ayvazyan, a career diplomat, had served as Armenia's ambassador to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama. In October 2020, he was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister.
On November 9, the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities in Artsakh. According to the document, the sides stopped at their positions; the town of Shushi, Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin regions pass over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of the 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged ($1 - 497.38 drams). -0-
