Monday, May 31 2021 14:13

ArmInfo.  Acting Foreign Minister  of Armenia Ara Aivazian held a farewell meeting with the employees of  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and expressed gratitude to the latter  for the professionalism and dedication shown during the joint work.

According to the RA MFA, Aivazian stated during his farewell speech  that when he received an offer to head the Armenian Foreign Ministry,  he made the most difficult, but at the same time, the simplest  decision.

"An easy decision, because I am personally confident, and you all  realized that we owe our victims, we owe our country. It was  difficult because I understood very well and realized what a huge  responsibility I and all of us bear, because we did not have the  right to make a mistake. We did not have the right to take a step  that our people, our history will not forgive us in the future. When  I took office, I said that diplomacy was not defeated, and I  still  insist that our diplomacy has not been defeated. Many disagree with  me, but during this time all of us - here and at the embassies, have  proved that we are not only not defeated, but we can also promote our  state and national interests, indicate red lines, "Aivazian said.

Noting that a lot had been done during this period, the former  minister expressed his conviction that Armenian diplomats could go  out into the streets without a twinge of conscience. "I think our  international partners understood that Armenia did not lose, Artsakh  did not lose, the Armenians were not defeated. Our enemies also  understood this. And it is equally important that in these troubling  days we have become a structure that has become clear to our society,  our voice has become more and more audible, we have more than ever  won the trust of our people, "the diplomat said, adding that it was  with great difficulty that he made the decision to leave.

According to Aivazian, when he made the decision to head the RA  Foreign Ministry, he was guided by one criterion. "This Ministry,  born of independence, must steadfastly defend our sovereignty, our  independence, our state and national interests. I hope I did not  leave you ashamed, my decision to resign was due precisely to this  reason, so that there has never been any doubt that this Ministry can  take some step or agree with some ideas, initiatives that run counter  to our statehood, national-state interests. We have come a long way  together, and today I am leaving with the kindest memories, " he  said.

When leaving, Aivazian also gave the last parting words to his former  employees. "A diplomat is usually perceived as a person who adapts,  agrees, avoids sharp corners. I think we have no right to do this in  these difficult conditions. And among us, I am sure, there will be  principled diplomats who will become a reference point for our  society," he summed up.

To note, the acting RA Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian resigned on May  28. This happened after the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of  Armenia announced his readiness to sign a new document with  Azerbaijan, which concerns the demarcation of the border.