ArmInfo. Effective implementation of the Armenian foreign policy is of the same vital importance for Armenia as internal reforms, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is convinced.
"Moreover, the successful implementation of our internal reforms is closely linked to foreign policy, which is important both in terms of international assistance to reforms and their proper presentation abroad, and in studying the positive experience of some countries, adaptation and implementation. Foreign policy plays a huge role in establishing the level of security of our country, the protection of our interests in international relations, long-term development, and, of course, protection of the rights and interests of our citizens abroad," Sargsyan said during the meeting with the leadership of the Armenian Foreign Ministry.
Sargsyan stressed that increasing the effectiveness of Armenian diplomacy is imperative of the day. According to him, this is due to both traditional challenges and threats, as well as lightning-fast changes both in the world and in the region. Moreover, Sargsyan believes that changes lead not only to challenges, but in some cases create new opportunities. "And the task of diplomacy is to predict and understand their essence in a timely manner, to be able to use them as effectively as possible in the interests of our country. It is obvious that in today's international relations the number of conflicts and various crises, contradictions between various organizations in the security sphere, the tendency of religious and ethnic intolerance increase", he said. He also stressed that Armenia has never tried to impose its share of responsibility on others in solving regional and international issues.
Touching upon the Karabakh issue, Sargsyan stressed that the peaceful settlement of the conflict will continue to be one of Armenia's foreign policy priorities. "Of course, we will purposefully continue to support the efforts of the Minsk mediators towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict. As a result of consistent work in the peace process, our positions have significantly strengthened over the past 10 years, and here I want to thank all the participants of the process, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We managed to set the right of the people to self-determination as fundamental in the solution of the conflict". He stressed that no matter how pressing the Karabakh issue is, there should not be an impression that Armenia's foreign policy revolves around its axis. "The axis of our foreign policy, of course, should be the interests of Armenia, and its active participation in international issues will help to better advance its positions," the head of state said.
He also stressed that it is time to review and modernize the country's national security strategy. "It is no accident that I am voicing this idea in the Foreign Ministry," the head of state explained.
According to him, the key problems of Armenia's national security are mostly or more directly related to the external environment. Stressing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accumulated the necessary knowledge, experience and, most importantly, the functionality for making substantive and important recommendations.
Serzh Sargsyan also drew the attention of the senior staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the main events of the current year - to the summit of Francophonie, the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Republic, to the third Global Forum of Fighting the Genocides and the upcoming festivities for the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan. He stressed that the summit of Francophonie is very important in terms of scope, and Armenia is now on the road to passing the exam.