Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, another hearing on public agencies’ performance reports was held in the Office of Government.

On May 25, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reported on the activities that the ministry implemented in 2019 in pursuit of Armenia’s foreign policy priorities. In particular, he dwelt on the efforts made to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, advance the cause of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, help prevent genocides and crimes against humanity, promote the human rights agenda, as well as to develop international cooperation on bilateral and multilateral platforms.

The minister stressed that the Armenian diplomacy reaffirmed that sovereignty is the most important principle of Armenia’s foreign policy. Combined with two other principles – pan-Armenianism and interaction - it provides for the pursuit of our nation’s core values and interests in the international arena.

The Foreign Minister introduced the steps taken to build and expand partnerships with Russia, the United States, EU-member and other European countries, including France and Germany, as well as with neighboring Georgia and Iran, and other states. Special emphasis was placed on the Armenia-Cyprus-Greece trilateral format of cooperation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs reported back the steps aimed at promoting interaction with Middle Eastern and African nations, as well as cooperation in the framework of the EAEU, CSTO, UN, European Council, OSCE, and the International Organization of La Francophonie. Reference was made to other multilateral formats and Armenia’s priorities.

Prime Minister Pashinyan highlighted the development of relations with all partners and the implementation of consistent efforts in a bid to tap the full potential of Armenia’s diplomatic service. He stressed the need for expanding the economic component in the foreign policy process. “Our foreign policy should feature an economic component in all of its manifestations,” he emphasized.

Nikol Pashinyan underscored the need to develop a new concept note on the use of the pan-Armenian potential, taking into account the decades-long changes and processes taking place in the Diaspora. Taking the opportunity, the Premier formulated specific tasks for Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.