Pashinyan to representatives of the Armenian community of Lebanon: I  can hardly present a solution without clarifying the status of  Artsakh 

ArmInfo."It is important for us to tackle all the problems that entangled the relations between Armenia and Diaspora. Undoubtedly, all Armenians should participate  in the state-building process in the homeland, but we need to  consolidate at a higher institutional level.

Diaspora and Armenia  today are united as a result of the positive atmosphere formed after  the revolution, which needs to be crystallized and materialized."  According to the press service of Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan  answered a number of questions from representatives of the Armenian  community of Lebanon, concerning the development of Armenia,  Armenia-Diaspora relations, sectoral reforms, priorities of economic  development of Armenia, repatriation, cooperation between the State  and the Church, etc.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Acting Prime  Minister said: "During my contacts with international community  representatives, I am often asked whether Armenia is ready for a  compromise. I usually give the following answer: "Is Azerbaijan ready  for a compromise?" I do not know who and where decided that Armenia  should be the first to answer this question. Armenia is not going to  be the first to answer this question. At least, the answer must be  synchronous. Is Azerbaijan ready for a compromise? This is the   question.  I said repeatedly that we would be adequate in any  situation; both Armenia and the Armenian government should never lose  the sense of adequacy. As for the framework for the settlement of the  conflict, I can hardly present a solution without clarifying the  status of Artsakh. This is a fact that we emphasize in our  statements: Artsakh's security and status are the cornerstone for  resolving the conflict."

Presenting his vision of Armenia-Diaspora relations, Nikol Pashinyan  noted: "It is important for us to tackle all the problems that  entangled the relations between Armenia and Diaspora.  Undoubtedly,  all Armenians should participate in the state-building process in the  homeland, but we need to consolidate at a higher institutional level.  Diaspora and Armenia today are united as a result of the positive  atmosphere formed after the revolution, which needs to be  crystallized and materialized."

The Acting Prime Minister next touched upon the activities of  Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. He urged those present to trust the  Fund's activities and help enhance its transparency and cost-  efficiency.  "Transparency in spending is very important. Trust is  very important, and I hope that the Armenia-Diaspora relations will  be based primarily on mutual confidence," he stressed. Referring to  the prospects for developing democracy in Armenia, the Acting Prime  Minister noted, "There is no alternative to democracy, and I rule out  any vote rigging during our tenure. The press in Armenia has never  been so free as today, economic and political activities, the  possibility of expression in Armenia have never been so free as now.  Today, the government of Armenia enjoys the people's support, and  this is unprecedented in the history of the Third Republic, and if  there is any dominance, this is the dominance of the people. " Nikol  Pashinyan expressed confidence that Armenia will continue to move  forward along the path of democracy confidently and consistently.   Nikol Pashinyan next presented his vision of Armenia's economic  development, noting that the economy is currently anchored in mining  industry, agriculture and gambling: this structure should be changed,  and the government has set a goal to transform Armenia from an  agrarian country into a technological one.  "We look forward to  investment in information and high technology. In general, Armenia  has to be am industrial country: there is great untapped potential in  diamond industry, jewelry, light industry, tourism, and  technology-extensive agriculture, and all this fits into our concept  of an ecological, green Armenia," the Acting Prime Minister stressed,  highlighting the participation of Diaspora-based specialists in the  development and restructuring of the economy. He also gave details on  improving the investment climate and reforming tax regulations.   Questions were asked about the national agenda, including on the  settlement of the Artsakh conflict. Nikol Pashinyan noted that the  national agenda should be discussed in a single format, involving  different layers of the Armenian people. 

The Acting Prime Minister noted that in our reality there is a  strange perception, which is sometimes expressed in the press and the  statements of some politicians. "Someone may think that there can be  a government in Armenia to deal with the problem of Artsakh in  secret. It has been discussed constantly over the past twenty years.  How can any authority - even the worst government with bad intentions  - secretly solve the Karabakh issue? I propose to abandon this  discourse altogether. Once I said, and I keep saying this during  negotiations, that if there is any option for resolving the conflict,  and I myself am convinced that this is a good option, then I will  introduce it to our people in Armenia and the Diaspora, and the  people will decide whether they want it or not. I suggest giving up  the presumption of conspiracy in the context of the settlement of the  Karabakh conflict just because this issue cannot be solved in secret.

I am talking about Armenia and the Diaspora, but the most important  and decisive factor is the position of Artsakh's government and the  people of Artsakh. Should Armenia and the Diaspora happen to approve  an option, while the people of Artsakh might be reluctant, then we  will state that it is a bad option. The people of Artsakh should have  a decisive say in this matter. This does not imply at all that we  reject the idea of negotiations, but we say that this is a national  problem, and we must solve it together. I rule out that any authority  - even the one with the strongest popular support - could solve this  problem in a roundabout way. Otherwise they will lose the public's  trust in a minute. This is obvious, and we must make it clear once  and for all," Nikol Pashinyan concluded.