The Stakes Are High: President Khachaturyan's Call to Ambassadors

Our expectations are high, because the stakes are also high: the security of our borders and the trust of our people. This was stated by the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan. On August 24, he and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of the annual workshop for the heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Armenia in foreign states.

"In the history of newly independent Armenia, I consider August 8 a great diplomatic achievement, which changes the entire picture of the region, making a transition from the logic of war and military to a region of peace, economic development, and prosperity. We must record that this achievement is the result of difficult choices, painstaking diplomacy, and the collective will of our citizens. This does not mean the end of efforts, but rather the beginning of a new chapter that sets more specific tasks for each of us.

Our expectations are high, because the stakes are also high: the security of our borders and the trust of our people. While exercising cautious optimism and always prioritizing Armenia's security and national interests, we must at the same time be open to constructive dialogue and regional cooperation.

Lasting peace will unlock huge economic potential for Armenia. Initiatives in the fields of trade, energy, and infrastructure may open up before us, which can turn our region into a center of cooperation.

I especially emphasize the focus on proactive diplomacy and soft power initiatives. Currently, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Office of the President of the Republic of Armenia and the General Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon is being prepared. Armenia will be the first country with which Lebanon will sign such a memorandum. I propose to initiate the conclusion of such memorandums with other countries as well.

Our priority should be sustainable innovation that will promote green energy, smart technologies, and environmentally friendly practices.

Next year will be special, as, among others, we will host the Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity, COP17, and the 8th Summit of the European Political Community. Hosting such large-scale conferences at a high level will ensure Armenia's international visibility and significant economic benefits.

It is necessary to support the creation of balanced and constructive media campaigns that will emphasize the importance of peaceful coexistence for nations and will highlight successful stories of cooperation.

Here, your role as ambassadors in communicating these developments and receiving international support is particularly important.

Special attention should be paid to relations with Landlocked Developing Countries, with which we have significant common interests. Countries like ours are well aware of the limitations of economic development in such conditions, and at the same time, the importance of expanding interconnectedness, international trade, involvement in regional transit routes, and connections.

Taking into account the role of the countries of the Middle East, the Gulf, and Central Asia in strengthening peace and security in the region, as well as promoting sustainable development, I attach great importance to the further development of an active political dialogue with them, the deepening of trade and economic relations, as well as the promotion of cooperation on multilateral platforms. This region is important in the context of economic diplomacy.

The African region is a relatively new, promising direction for our foreign policy. In recent years, we have been trying to activate our relations with African countries, and certain steps have already been taken.

The activation of relations with the states of the Latin American region in recent years is evidence that Armenia is striving to diversify the geography of its relations with other states and expand the scope of cooperation. Geographical distance should no longer be an obstacle to strengthening relations today," President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan noted in his message.