VIDEO: Smirking is Not Appropriate, Mr. Rustamyan, Says Mirzoyan

The primary priority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is ensuring peace and stability around the Republic of Armenia, and our efforts are directed towards this, which also implies the process of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. This was stated by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the preliminary discussion of the 2025 budget in the National Assembly, in response to the question from MP Armen Rustamyan of the ‘Armenia’ faction about whether the resolution of the Karabakh conflict is on the Ministry's agenda.

“The normalization of relations with Azerbaijan has several material expressions – the finalization and signing of the peace treaty text, unblocking of infrastructure, and the demarcation process of borders, while when you mention the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we understand the entire conflict. Now, I understand one thing by saying 'Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,' you may understand something else; we are currently dealing with what I just talked about, which is about the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan,” he said.

Rustamyan also inquired whether the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ agenda, to which Mirzoyan replied that it is not their top priority. “Studying the tragic events of history or making the Armenian Genocide a top priority is not on the agenda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the minister responded.

Rustamyan countered that he is discussing issues that are enshrined in the government program and asked whether they will implement their program or not. Mirzoyan responded, “It is clear that it is written, but the world, especially in these five years, is undergoing such rapid changes, countries are at war with each other and reconciling; how can the words written before such processes retain the same force and applicability in a changed world? This is a dynamic matter, and I do not think that smirking is appropriate, Mr. Rustamyan.”