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Distinguished Deputy Prime Minister, Distinguished Ministers, dear participants and guests of the Conference, dear friends,

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of us on upcoming Independence Day of Armenia. It is symbolic that this Conference was held on the eve of the 26^th anniversary of the declaration of Armenia’s Independence.

Let me thank all of you for active participation. I am sure that this Conference is all-national initiative more consolidating us, resulting in tangible results and boosting the All-Armenian cooperation.

In general, Armenia-Diaspora Conferences are considered to be one of the most important events for our compatriots being in Armenia and beyond its borders. The geography of the participation being expanded year by year also testifies to that.

This Conference has an inclusive agenda, which comprises of a number of directions: from the economic to foreign policy, preservation of the Armenian identity and national security.

One of the important discussions of the 6^th Conference, certainly, related to the idea of the creation of the Pan Armenian Council. I am confident that that future structure with its form and content can fully take part in the works of the formation of the Pan Armenian, united agenda.

Dear friends,

The Motherland is the main warrant of the spiritual security, the Diaspora is the most important supporter and beneficiary of the provision of the Motherland’s regional and economic security.

In this context, I would like to touch upon our Syrian Armenian compatriots, and the considerable part of them took asylum in the Motherland. The Syrian Armenians that immigrated Armenia enrich our country. On the other hand, irrespective of their whereabouts, today the Syrian Armenians need joint support of the Motherland and the Diaspora. The Republic of Armenia within the limits of its possibilities helps and will help our Syrian Armenian compatriots in Syria and in other places. It is not accidental that this Conference as a most Pan Armenian event separately touched upon the Syrian Armenians’ problems.

Dear compatriots,

It is everybody’s dream to create a developed, fair and secure state.

We build a new Armenia, with new perspective and new opportunities.

We have adopted the path of democracy and sustainable development, from which we cannot refuse, regardless of any situation.

It is evident that the present economic and political situation created in the world, rapidly developing events obligate to be more flexible and speedy, improve the political and economic diplomacy tools.

Most of you, living in different countries, being professionally involved in different spheres, I am sure, know very well the value of all of it. Your personal participation, the use of the newest knowledge, experience and skills can be useful not only in the countries where you live, where you have achieved great successes, but also in Armenia.

Your potential and participation are important for us. We should make all our efforts with patience, move forward step by step and more consolidate the Armenian forces to solve the problems of the Armenian world and create new opportunities for better future.

In Armenia we highly assess the efforts of the structures of the Diaspora, which show support especially the youth of the Diaspora, in voluntarily working in Armenia, in finding full job or serving to the Motherland their experience and knowledge in any way. We are thankful to the organizations and individuals, as well as our international colleagues for their pro-Armenian devotion.

I am sure that many of the attendees here have ideas and proposals. It is possible that there is need to also present in the parliamentary format them for making them reality. I would like to assure you that the doors of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia are open for all constructive and reasonable proposals, which can be useful for our country and our people spread worldwide.

As you know, as a result of Constitutional amendments, the role of the National Assembly has become more than pivotal. The system of the parliamentary government will become full reality next year, when all relevant provisions of the Constitution will enter into force. The National Assembly will implement its activities aimed at the development and progress of the country with new energy and more purposeful.

The legislators’ efforts should be aimed at the rise of the degree of the protection of the human rights, the further strengthening of the rule of law.

Dear friends,

The various programmes of progress and development cannot become reality in the absence of peace and security. They are non bargaining values, and any compromise of them can result in irreparable fatal consequences.

The security and the peace of Armenia’s borders are inseparable from the security of Artsakh borders. On behalf of Artsakh Republic it is more than quarter of a century that the existence of the Armenian second state is undeniable reality. In the parliaments of different countries of the world we have many friends, who share the dreams of the Artsakh people and support them. Artsakh is also the embodiment of the All-Armenian dream. You are all confident on the reliability of the Armenian Armed Forces and high fighting readiness, the spirit of our soldier and officer. Our Army also gets strengthened day by day due to your support, because in the Motherland in case of security problem the Armenian living even in the furthest corner of the world cannot stay calm.

This is the evident manifestation of the nation-army idea.

Consequently, any negotiation, discussion or solution cannot be prior of the Artsakh people’s free will, the idea of Artsakh independence and security, the idea of peace. This is the starting point uniting the inner and foreign political priorities. And the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan also distinctly voiced out loud in the name of all Armenians of the world from the UN high tribune about this yesterday, delivering a speech in the 72^nd UN General Assembly Session.

Dear friends,

We are well aware of the challenges facing our state, especially taking into consideration the geopolitical developments and the problems existing in the region. First of all, we stem from our interests and goals, using the diplomatic means and tricks for defending and forwarding them, because nobody knows better our needs, and nobody has ever thought more and will not think about our today and tomorrow. On the other hand, we don’t try to build our relations with any country or organization damaging other countries or organizations. We have rather high rating of confidence and reliability in the relations with the Eurasian Economic Union, European Union, American and in general, our other colleagues, including Iran and China, seeking not only getting benefit from that cooperation, but also to be useful.

In parallel with passing to the system of parliamentary government, we are going to develop the efforts and the activeness of the parliamentary diplomacy. And on that path we need the support of our brothers and sisters of the Diaspora, our friends spread all over the world.

Dear friends,

Once again I would like to thank all of you. I am sure that this Conference will also promote the development of Armenia-Diaspora ties and relations.

I wish all of you peace, success and progress for the benefit of our people, Armenia, Artsakh and all communities of Diaspora.