TANGIBLE RESULTS TO BECOME VISIBLE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 17, 2008
Armenia

Yesterday President S. Sargsyan introduced the newly appointed Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandyan to the administrative staff of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.

In his speech Serge Sargsyan particularly underscored: "On April
13, according to my decrees two Ministers were appointed – Defense
Minister and Foreign Minister. Of course it was a coincidence, but in
my opinion this coincidence was symbolic. A diplomat of any country,
especially the one representing Armenia, a country located in the
most complex region, is undoubtedly the vanguard of his country, as
responsible as any soldier in Armenian Army, who guards the borders
of the country. Armenia’s security and wellbeing is under your direct
responsibility.

I believe there is no need to introduce the biography of the newly
appointed Foreign Minister to the diplomats participating in this
meeting and the overwhelming majority of society. You are also well
aware of the high effectiveness of Mr. Nalbandyan’s activity, which,
in my opinion, is his most important achievement.

Today I must express my special gratitude to Vardan Oskanyan. A person,
who has headed Armenian Foreign Ministry for the last 10 years. It
was due to the high qualities of this person that Armenia has been
represented to the world: from the UN tribune, in international
structures, in bilateral relations, in the process of the regulation
of Karabakh conflict. Mr. Oskanyan’s investment in our state building
is really great.

I hope Mr. Oskanyan’s personality and especially his 10 years’ activity
won’t turn into a subject of historical "research" only. With his
rich experience, active and true civil behavior Vardan Oskanyan must
continue his patriotic activity, contributing to the development of
our country.

I would like to use this chance and speak about the tasks faced by
Armenian Foreign policy. In the coming years our foreign policy must
become more active, more initiating and fixed on tangible results, thus
maintaining the contents of mutual supplementation. We must do our best
to raise the level of Armenia’s involvement in the international life.

We must create internationally favorable conditions for the peaceful
and fair settlement of Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan must, once and
for all, perceive the simple fact that the existence of the independent
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is an irretrievable fact.

It is impossible even to imagine that NKR can have something in common
with Azerbaijan. Artsakh’s freedom-loving people have been successfully
building their democratic state for the last 20 years. Azerbaijan
that ignores the natural right to sovereignty is considered a tyranny
in Karabakh.

They are in delusion in Baku, that due to their oil-dollars they
can establish an unsurpassed economic privilege towards our country
and one day record a military success. But it is not only due to
the power of money that we keep the country and gain victories. The
fact is, according to the estimations of authoritative "Heritage"
fund and "Wall Street Journal", by the rating of economic freedoms
Armenia is in 28th place, whereas Azerbaijan is 108th. The fact is,
according to the assessment of the specialists Armenian Army is the
most efficient in the region.

Azerbaijani leaders must finally realize that the outcome received from
the country’s natural resources don’t presume automatic prosperity and
economic development for the country, the same way as the abundance of
thunderous speeches doesn’t presume that they have an efficient army.

This way or that the people of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh have
deserved the right to free and independent life. And it is due to
our efforts that the international community must recognize this right.

As the Leader of the country, in our foreign policy I attach special
importance to active economic ties, development of humanitarian
cooperation, active work in the information and advocacy domain
abroad, and the worthy representation of Armenian cultural heritage
in foreign countries.

With their active work our diplomats must contribute to the growth
of Armenia’s international authority, trying to gain more friends in
the world.

I also attach special importance to our work with the Diaspora. Even in
case of having a separate analogous structure our compatriots spread
all over the world must feel the caring attitude of the motherland
due to our efforts.

The issue of maintaining our national identity is first of all the
task of the Republic of Armenia and we must be the initiators and
the ones responsible for this policy.

The issue of the international recognition and condemnation of the
Genocide is still in our agenda.

I assure you, our diplomatic services; all the issues of the Foreign
Ministry will be in the limelight of RA President. We must start an
everyday hard work, due to which, I believe, very soon the tangible
results will be visible. I would like to congratulate our newly elected
Ministers one more time and before I finish my speech, I want to say:
let’s work for the welfare of our country."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress