Nikol Pashinyan in Isfahan: We will not allow anyone to use us as a  coin in their geopolitical games 

ArmInfo.Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Mrs. Anna Hakobyan visited the St. Amenaprkich Monastic complex in Isfahan, where they met with Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Isfahan, Bishop Sipan Kechejian, the press service of the  Armenian Prime Minister informs. 

As they toured the monastic complex, the Prime Minister and his  spouse visited the local museum to get acquainted with the latter's  history. Then, Nikol Pashinyan and his delegation called at Ararat  Club in Isfahan and met with thousands of representatives of the  local Armenian community. The latter welcomed Prime Minister  Pashinyan with warmth and heated applause.

Addressing those present, Nikol Pashinyan stated, in part: "Because  the word "proud" was talked about here, I think it has experienced  some meaningful change. Yes, the Bible says that pride is a sin, but  I think arrogance is meant there. Pride in modern language is used to  describe people with strong legs, a solid backbone, working hands.   Proud citizens, proud Armenians of New Julfa, I greet you.

Indeed, this is a historical hub for Armenians, and due to political  and geopolitical circumstances, a large part of the population of the  First Republic of Armenia settled in Isfahan and established New  Jugha. Actually, yes, people turned away from Armenia, but New Jugha  became a true home for the Armenian people's cultural revival.   Indeed, these were geopolitically bad times, and after migration, the  territory of the Republic of Armenia was in a difficult situation; it  was subject to continued wars, and New Jugha became the place where  the Armenian people developed their culture.

The St. Amenaprkich Monastery is one of the most exclusive churches  in which a unique pattern of Armenian frescoes is preserved. It is  supposed that we have had similar masterpieces in Eastern and Western  Armenia, but time has been ruthless about cultural heritage. I want  to thank you for preserving these priceless treasures of Armenian  culture for our people, this is a part of our identity, pride and  greatness of the greatness. Thank you for keeping the Armenian  identity and the Armenian dream to return to Armenia.

I also want to thank you for being so Armenian and Armenian that you  have been able to become full-fledged citizens of the Islamic  Republic of Iran, who have served the empowerment and prosperity of  this friendly nation. Thank you for being full-fledged, dignified and  proud citizens of Iran. The fact that Armenian delegations enjoy a  top-level welcome here is the result of your selfless service to  friendly relations.

As far as history is concerned, I want to emphasize that it is really  important to us. I am glad to see the atmosphere in New Jugha,  Tehran, Paris, Cologne, the exclusive national unity that we have  after the non-violent, velvet, popular revolution in the Republic of  Armenia. I am convinced that you consider this people's revolution a  personal victory, because it is the victory of the people, every son  of the Armenian people has invested in that victory.

I would like to thank you for your civic victory because we have made  a huge step on the way to implementing our long-cherished dreams. I  also want to greet you today as the victorious proud citizens. Today  most of you are not citizens of Armenia, but community  representatives told me that many of you will be proud citizens of  Armenia tomorrow and that is the most important and big dream we have  to accomplish.

When speaking about it, first of all I think about history, and that  conversation leads to the idea that the mission we have to fulfill is  historic literally, not figurative. I have always thought that we,  the Armenians have the task of overcoming the historical cycle that  has accompanied us from the times of Arshakuni. What do I mean? I  mean the continued loss of statehood when we proved deprived of  statehood for the most part and for a long time after the fall of the  dynasty of Arshakuni. When I think about our collective historical  mission, my first thought is to overcome the cycle when we lost  statehood, dreamed about it, restored it and lost it again.

Speaking about our historic mission in this historic community, it  should be underlined that it is one of the proofs of our own history  and its logic. A representative of your community under the new heap  of applauds declared that they are dreaming of repatriation and  proofreading our history.

You came here when our state was not strong enough to protect our  ancestors. I often refer to King Pap because I think about the time  when our story went wrong throwing us into an endless circle of  disaster. I think King Pap was the one to give us the opportunity to  change the status of Armenia and the Armenian people. Something went  wrong since then, because at that time we were not so receptive about  the historical events, we were united, we did not have a common  consciousness.  Our millennial trials have led us to a point where we  have grown up as a mighty nation. We have to maintain our identity,  unshakable unity and do not pay tribute to foreigners. We must get  rid of those politicians in the Republic of Armenia, who are foreign  agents rather than citizens of their own country.  We as people will  no longer allow condemnation to our statehood, we will not allow  anyone to use a coin in its geopolitical games to allow our own  brothers to use to destroy, demolish and weaken our state. Because  this is the exclusive time of the unity of the Armenian people and we  must return to 374 years and not allow the greatest conspiracy  against our people.  We will not allow anybody to think that the  Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh can be taken away  because we are proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia, proud  citizens of the Republic of Artsakh, we are the descendants of Tigran  the Great, we are the descendants of King Pap.  The non-violent,  velvet, popular revolution in Armenia was carried out under the  slogan "We are the masters of our country;" while the revolution in  the Armenian people's historical destiny must come around under the  slogan "We are the master of our destiny." Every one of us, the prime  minister, the minister, the deputy or the builder, should realize his  exceptional historical role in Armenia and the Diaspora. When I speak  about our historical role, I do not mean the historical role of the  prime minister, the government, the National Assembly, or any state  body, but I speak of every Armenian's historical role. I want to get  your authority to announce that every Armenian is his historical  mission and proud to bear his or her historical mission.

The Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh, must exist on the  planet Earth and become even stronger. It no longer comes as a  temporary state; we have created it with our own hands, blood and  sweat, and we will keep this state with our own blood, sweat, labor  and mind because the Armenian nation is a powerful people.

Therefore, long live freedom! Long live the Armenian-Iranian  friendship! Long live the Republic of Armenia! Long live our children  and we who are living and will live in a free and happy Armenia."

The official visit of the Prime Minister-led government delegation to  the Islamic Republic of Iran is over.