On March 7, an official reception on the occasion of the Diplomat’s Day was held at the National Gallery of Armenia. Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, President of the National Assembly, members of the Government, members of Parliament, Ambassadors accredited in Armenia and numerous guests were present at the event.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a congratulatory message addressed to diplomats.

In his remarks addressed to the participants of the event,  Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, stated:

“Diplomatic service occupies a special place among the public services, as it develops under the most important characteristic of a state – sovereignty. The fact that the Diplomat’s Day in Armenia is celebrated on March 2 is not a coincidence. It was 27 years ago that the tricolor of Armenia was raised at the UN headquarter thus fixing the place and the role of our country in the family of sovereign states.   

Being one of the fundamental tools of implementing foreign policy, diplomacy and diplomats are engaged in ensuring the state’s sovereignty in international relations and reinforcing its external security.

We can proudly state that since the independence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its activity has been established as a strong and self-sufficient state agency, with professionals dedicated to their work and mission, who selflessly carry out their daily service to the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.

We are a unique family where experience and youth are mixed together, united by the idea of powerful and presentable Homeland.

I would like to address specifically to the young diplomats who have been recently actively joining our ranks, many of whom as representatives the independence generation give a fresh air to our service, catching the eye with their special progressive and innovative approaches. And I am confident that thanks to the joint and complementary work of our experienced and distinguished diplomats and young people, we are able to efficiently address any challenge that our service might face. In the process of the enlargement of the MFA staff, I would like to emphasize the role of the Diplomatic School whose alumni have been defending the interests of Armenia in different parts of the world for years.

I would also like to especially thank the diplomats, who continue to defend our collective interests and devotedly serve ignoring the situations which threaten their own physical security, in the crisis zones like Aleppo, Damascus and Baghdad.”

“Armenia is currently pursuing ambitious and irreversible reforms in different spheres of public life. The diplomatic service has its own unique role in the development of the new Armenia, materializing in the foreign policy field the bread potential created in our country due to the democratic Velvet  Revolution. This is a potential that gives an opportunity to strengthen all the components of the pro-Armenian policy in order to ensure the external complex conditions for promoting the country’s agenda.

Based on the Government’s  program, guided by collective interests of the Republic  of Armenia and the Armenian people, we will continue to ensure security of Armenia and Artsakh, present and defend the legitimate interests of our country and citizens, take steps to advance the pan-national agenda, for the welfare of our country and our people.

One of the most important issues is the strengthening of the economic component of the policy.

We must do our diplomatic step in the economic revolution, which first of all implies the proper presentation of economic opportunities, attractiveness of investments and business environment to international partners.”

During the event Ambassador Grigor Arakelyan was awarded with the First Degree Medal of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs for long-term work in the Foreign Ministry.