The Opening of Communications Will Provide an Opportunity to Overcome the 30-Year Blockade

The Armenian community in Russia and Armenian businesses have firmly stood alongside the statehood of Armenia, and continue to do so. This was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during his opening speech at the Armenia Business Forum in Yerevan.

“Today this message is extremely important at this crucial historical juncture we find ourselves in. Indeed, we have gone through and are going through a very harsh trial: after the 44-day war in 2020, it was necessary to find answers to several important questions. And it was to find answers to these questions that snap parliamentary elections took place in the Republic of Armenia. These elections were supposed to show, or become the cause-and-effect link of various events in the 30-year history of the third republic, and in the end, they were to answer another very important question—how to continue life and in which direction to move?”

Pashinyan emphasized, “I believe this is an important question, and the results of the elections recorded, in fact, the decision of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to move in the following direction: to open an era of peaceful development for the Republic of Armenia and the region, and this is especially the mandate received by the government of Armenia from the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.”

As to whether the practical implementation of this theoretical thesis is possible, Pashinyan stated that it is crucial to understand all the pessimists, as events occur every day that can lead to conclusions, and there are definitely forces that want to show that an era of peaceful development in our region is impossible.

“However, the government of the Republic of Armenia, fully aware of the complex challenges it faces, will be consistent and will lead the Republic of Armenia along this path. I must note that on this path we will need strong nerves, composure, and pragmatism,” added the Prime Minister.

He presented the tools through which, according to him, the era of peaceful development should be established and opened. “I consider the opening of regional communications extremely important—according to the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021. I believe that the resolution of this issue is also very important in the context of our discussion, because the opening of regional communications should ultimately provide an opportunity for Armenia to overcome a blockade of approximately 30 years, which means fundamentally changing the investment environment in Armenia, and altering the economic structure of Armenia in a way that the country and the state become more resilient and competitive,” concluded Pashinyan.