The strength of peace is determined not by the presence of  guarantors, but by mutual benefit - Ararat Mirzoyan

ArmInfo. The strength of peace is determined not by the presence of guarantors, but by mutual  benefit for the parties, as stated by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan  during a government hour on March 25, addressing questions from parliamentarians.  

He emphasized that in a system of international relations based on pragmatic calculations, guarantors  typically pursue their own interests. The Minister noted that there are many peace agreements, guaranteed and signed even by groups of countries, that were subsequently violated, including by the guarantors themselves.

"The Foreign Ministry spoke about peace guarantees and guarantors,  but in the context of strengthening peace and ensuring its strength.  And life has shown that today we have peace, and this peace, in the  face of regional upheavals, has proven its viability and  sustainability. And I am confident that it will continue to do so in  the future," Mirzoyan said.

He believes that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as between any  other countries, will last  as long as it benefits both sides. "Our  goal is to create mutually beneficial mechanisms, systems of  interconnectedness, complementarity, and cooperation, whereby  maintaining peace will be beneficial to both Armenia and Azerbaijan,"  the minister noted. However, he said that these mechanisms already  exist.  In this regard, Mirzoyan pointed out the established dialogue  between civil societies in Armenia and Azerbaijan, the transit of  goods to Armenia through Azerbaijan, and bilateral trade.

The desire to possess a grenade, according to the minister, is, in  fact, a manifestation of other aspirations and desires. He ruled out  the possibility that the opposition forces' arguments about the need  for peace guarantors are motivated by a desire for a more lasting  peace and a secure future. Mirzoyan noted that the presence of  guarantors is an opportunity for the X-country, through some  additional leverage, to continue to increase its presence not only in  Armenia but also on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

"And the whole cycle will continue, in which we've been stuck. Thanks  to our so-called opposition, we'll be pushed from one wall to  another, and so on. We,  the Civil Contract, are proposing to the  people of Armenia to move from a survival agenda to a development  focused one," Mirzoyan said.