Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended a reception hosted by the National Gallery of Armenia on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day, reports the news service of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, according to NEWS.am.

Congratulating diplomats on Diplomat’s Day, Nikol Pashinyan particularly stated the following:

“I congratulate you on Diplomat’s Day. This is truly an important day for our country. Allow me to state that this year our diplomats are celebrating Diplomat’s Day in totally different conditions and in a totally different situation. Today, fortunately, our diplomats around the world don’t need to spend long days and time explaining to foreigners about electoral fraud in Armenia and the progress or regress of elections in the country or why this or that person was executed. I think this is a major change that shows the essence of the non-violent, velvet and people’s revolution that took place in Armenia.

I hope this change is perceived as an imperative to work harder, with more motivation and with more vigor because today, the Republic of Armenia has something to say to the world, and all countries have a greater desire to listen to what the Republic of Armenia has to day.

It is also very important to state the major change that is taking place now within all systems of governance in Armenia, including in the diplomatic system that has to take place, and we need to state that both the government and diplomats serve the people, not a specific person or a specific authority. In this sense, we are also in a different situation in the Republic of Armenia because the government has been formed through expression of the free will of the people.

Right from the first day I was elected Prime Minister, I have been guided by the hypothesis that diplomats and the diplomatic system are among the most well-established state systems in our country, and we have done everything possible to make sure the system remains sustainable and functions on a regular basis. In these conditions, I obviously expect Armenia’s diplomatic representatives and the entire diplomatic system to properly present the changes having taken place in Armenia, and I am certain that the system will properly serve for the Republic of Armenia and its people. All diplomats who missed the opportunity to participate in the political revolution, now have a good opportunity to participate in the economic revolution and become an activist for the economic revolution in the working sense of the word. This means that they should become the ambassadors to present the changes taking place in the Republic of Armenia and the content of those changes.

In this sense, I attach great importance to our future actions in regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict because, as I said during our previous meeting, my contacts with foreign officials have helped me come to the conclusion that, unfortunately, in many cases, foreigners lack a notion of and don’t perceive the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. This is the most important objective of our future objectives and, in essence, it is necessary to work consistently so that foreigners know what we mean when we say the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and what the essence of the issue is.

We also need to continue the policy on international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We clearly state that international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is Armenia’s major contribution to global security and the prevention of genocides, and we view the issue from this perspective.

Expressing gratitude to all of our diplomats for their service, I would especially like to highlight the diplomats who are working in the most unstable regions and in very unsafe environments in this period. I deeply respect the consulate general of Armenia in Aleppo for continuing to carry out its activities in spite of bombardment of the building. The same goes for the activities of our embassy in Baghdad.

Indeed, the successful implementation of our foreign policy objectives depends on the joint efforts of the entire staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including our embassies and consulates abroad.

Thus, dear diplomats, once again, I congratulate you and wish you introduce new approaches because we are living in an age when there are wide opportunities to create and achieve new heights. I wish you all more achievements for the benefit and welfare of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and the Armenian people.

Mr. Mnatsakanyan, I personally wish you success in leading this, as they say, intricate staff. I would also like to express my appreciation to all the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Third Republic of Armenia for the efforts that they have made for the functioning of Armenia’s diplomatic system. Happy Diplomat’s Day.”