VIDEO. "We Will Talk to Everyone, Because It Serves Our Interests". Arshakyan on Relations with Turkey

In recent days, we have witnessed one of the most horrific events in history—a large-scale earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Today, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hakob Arshakyan, made this statement in parliament, adding that there were significant discussions in our society about whether the Republic of Armenia should send a humanitarian mission specifically to Turkey, and whether it was appropriate to take such a stance.

“And, of course, this unfortunate event has once again been utilized in actions to sow hatred towards this or that people involved in the conflict, whether they are actors of hostile acts or not. It created new ground, and some of our partners began to use that ground,” noted Arshakyan.

He pointed out that they are well aware of the historical facts and crimes, and it was during the tenure of the current authorities that the United States recognized the fact of the Genocide. No one can question the actions they took for that recognition.

“If we enter into a war, we must do so by fighting, but never with hatred. If we engage in a conflict, we must enter with our toolkit; if we are entering negotiations, we should enter with our toolkit as well. There have been wars in the world where countries have used chemical weapons against each other, cities have been destroyed. There have been instances where a city of 15 thousand was completely annihilated by a single use of chemical weapons, yet those countries sit down to negotiate and talk because they have state interests and borders. Today, countries involved in conflicts, even those in direct wars, cooperate on certain issues related to their national interests,” said the MP.

According to him, having hatred towards anyone—any state, nation, neighbor, friend, or another—is a disease. “And why do certain political forces and figures push you towards hatred? Because hatred is the best means of governance and enslavement. If you hate something or someone, you are manageable. Those who push you towards hatred want to enslave you.”

He emphasized that if we do not engage in dialogue with our neighbors, others will exploit the complex aspects of those relations and enter discussions already within their own state interests. “Our position is as follows: we will talk to everyone, regardless of our attitude towards those states, regardless of what happened in different historical eras. We must enter into conversation, because it serves our interests.”

According to Arshakyan, we have a population of 3 million, and if we want to compete economically with larger states, we must be at least several times more efficient in our daily work. “If everyone in the Republic of Armenia, whether a soldier, doctor, manufacturer, or producer personally, does not make every day more efficient, does not learn, does not become twice as good as the worker from the neighboring country, does not work on himself, on his personal and professional qualities, we cannot compete, let alone engage in conflict or war and win that war. I want us to shed the emotions of hatred, envy, and that emotional attitude and focus on improving ourselves,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of being a fighting soldier on the battlefield and a good diplomat in negotiations, but never hating either the enemy on the battlefield or the opposing side at the negotiating table.