Prime Minister Addresses the Armenian Community in Iran: Details

On the last day of his official visit to Iran, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by Anna Hakobyan and his government delegation, met with the local Armenian community. The meeting took place at the "Ararat" cultural center in Tehran. Thousands of Iranian Armenians attended the gathering, welcoming the Prime Minister with great enthusiasm, warmth, and applause.

Before addressing the attendees, Nikol Pashinyan wrote in the guestbook of the "Ararat" cultural center.

Greeting the representatives of the Iranian Armenian community, Pashinyan particularly stated: "Proud citizens of the proud Armenian community in Iran, I welcome you all. It is a great honor for me to be here in such a purely Armenian, purely Armenian, pure familial, and pure native atmosphere. I want to say that I love you all, I am proud of each of you, I am proud of your spirit, and I bow down before all of you for creating such an atmosphere while living outside your homeland, yes, in a friendly and brotherly Iran. It is very important that you have established such an environment. This shows that being a citizen of Iran has not and does not conflict with being Armenian, being from Armenia, and being centered around Armenia."

During the revolutionary days of last April-May, I did not have much opportunity to follow what was happening in our communities, particularly in the Iranian Armenian community, but I also know that the entire community closely followed the events in Armenia. I can assure you at no moment that dear compatriots, you are full participants and authors of the popular revolution that took place in the Republic of Armenia. Regardless of who was physically in Armenia during those days, without your support, those changes would not have happened.

Yes, each of you is a full participant in the peaceful, velvet, popular revolution that took place in Armenia, and the victory of the popular revolution in Armenia is the individual victory of each of you because this victory has brought unity to the Armenian people, and that unity will never be undermined.

I want to clearly state: yes, there can be discussions, debates, different approaches and views on issues related to the diaspora in Armenia, but I want to put a specific issue before all of us, primarily, of course, before me and our government. We must exclude any actions that could cast doubt on the unique national unity that the Armenian people enjoy today in Armenia, Iran, and throughout the world. This unity transcends any political or party interests; our national unity is noble above all, and we all serve that national unity.

I cannot refrain from expressing my special respect and appreciation for the "Ararat" club, which for many years, through individual efforts, community efforts, the efforts of separate groups, and party efforts, has managed to create such an exceptional Armenian hub, from which every stone, tree, and corner radiates Armenian identity. This is indeed our collective pride, and I thank the beloved participants and organizers of the "Ararat" club. I emphasize that this service is exceptional not only for the Iranian Armenian community but also for all Armenians and the Republic of Armenia.

I also want to highlight the exceptional service provided here by the Armenian Apostolic Church's Iranian Diocese, the Armenian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Evangelical Church. The fact that we are all gathered under the same roof emphasizes that a truly new page has opened in our people’s history, and each of us has a share in writing and creating that history.

Our revolution and government’s greatest mission is that each of us, you, as a whole, not only believe in the future of our homeland and people but also be confident that we will walk victoriously in the 21st century. This is a new nationwide march, through which we must open a new chapter in our people’s history.

I thank you for affirming your loyalty to the values brought by the peaceful, velvet, popular revolution.

Our common task is as follows: we no longer have an agenda for Armenia and a diaspora agenda; we have a national agenda aimed at realizing our common national goals and dreams.

I have said many times, for a very long time, our people suffered and dreamed of new victories, new happiness, and new unity. I want to say that the time has come to realize those dreams, and your presence today confirms that we are united and determined to turn those dreams into reality, whether it is about strengthening Armenia economically, fulfilling the just demands of the people of Artsakh, or realizing our dreams.

We must shape our future with our hands, just as we have shaped our present with our hands. Our destiny is no longer in the East, North, and South; it is in our hands, and as dignified citizens, we must take the helm of our destiny and lead as a state and as a people to new victories. But I also want to emphasize that the realization of these dreams depends on each of us, especially on me and the government.

Your special duty today has been fulfilled, as I received so much energy and strength from this meeting that after returning to Armenia, I will double, triple, and quadruple my efforts in my mission. I want to thank you for such a meeting and atmosphere.

So, long live freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live Armenian-Iranian friendship, long live us and our children, who live and will live as free, proud, and dignified children of a dignified and victorious people. Thank you.

Following this, Prime Minister Pashinyan answered several questions from attendees concerning the strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora relations, his visit to Iran, the results of negotiations, the priorities of the Armenian government, the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian-Turkish relations, and other topics.