Peace Can Be Achieved by Earning It, Not Begging for It: Pashinyan on Relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan disagrees with the notion that peace can be achieved by begging for it. According to the Prime Minister, peace must be earned.

“We must act with maximum responsibility. There are threats and opportunities, and we must engage with all of them. Regarding begging for peace, I agree with you that peace cannot be achieved by begging. Peace can only be obtained by earning it. There is a narrative that peace can be imposed. Our experience shows that this is not feasible either. Peace must be earned; this is evident. I completely agree that peace cannot be obtained by begging,” said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In the Prime Minister's opinion, peace can be attained by changing perspectives to a certain degree, accurately assessing situations and realities, taking calculated steps, and enhancing Armenia's role, visibility, and significance through a higher level of institutional maturity, while also changing relations in the region.

“We can have peace if we are capable of establishing tolerant relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, and shaping an environment for specific agreements. Furthermore, we should develop our relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia. This is the formula for peace. The resources from the international community that can assist us in this regard must definitely be utilized. I believe in the resolution of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey for one reason: you must believe in something before acting on it. If we do not believe, why are we negotiating? Are we just going through the motions? Negotiating for formality does not lead us anywhere,” concluded Pashinyan.