‘Our diplomacy has not suffered defeat’, foreign minister says in farewell address

Acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian held a farewell meeting today to thank the staff at the Foreign Ministry for their professionalism and dedicated work over the period.

Aivazian, who tendered his resignation last week after almost six months in office, said he doesn’t find the Armenian diplomacy defeated despite the failures suffered in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war.

“When I agreed to take over for this office, it was the most difficult – yet at the same time the easiest – decision in my life. It was an easy decision because I personally – and certainly also you all of you– realize that we owe to our victims, and to our country.

“It was difficult because I understood and realized the tremendous responsibility lying on me – and on all of us  - given that we had no right to err. We had no right to commit such a step for which our people and our history would never forgive us in the future.

“And I stated, upon taking office, that diplomacy wasn’t defeated. And I insist also today that our diplomacy hasn’t suffered a defeat. Many disagreed with me, but we all – both here and in embassies – managed to prove over the period that we are not only undefeated but also able to push ahead with our state and national interests and mark the red lines. This year, which marks the 30th anniversary of our ministry, is an important period. It is a period of maturity. It really looks as though we had been preparing ourselves for these days and these times over the entire period,” he said.  

Highly praising the past decades’ achievements, the minister said he really hopes that the international partners too, share the understanding that neither Armenia nor Artsakh - and nor especially the Armenian people - suffered any defeat. “Our enemies have understood that too. Last but not least, we were the structure that became perceivable to the society on these days full of anxiety, with our voice becoming increasingly audible as we gained unprecedented trust before our people.  I would like to thank you all today; it was really an honor to work with all of you. My workstyle has always been collegial. I am hopeful you really felt that any work and advice by any of you has been accessible to the Ministry’s leadership. And apart from being accessible, all our decisions made over the period were made based upon your professional work and advice.

“It was hard for me to make this decision, but I had one yardstick as a guideline upon taking this office. This ministry, which is the birth of independence, must unwaveringly support our sovereignty, our independence, our state and national interests,” he said, thanking the diplomatic corps and the other personnel for an effective collaboration over the period.