Serzh Sargsyan: An exceptionally peaceful settlement of  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict stands at the forefront of Armenia`s  foreign policy

ArmInfo. "Summing up the results of 2017, I would like to congratulate all of us with the fact that last year was marked by important decisions and results, aimed  at the future." This year our diplomacy was able to demonstrate consistency in solving its problems, "Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on December 28 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he took part in the reception on the occasion of the New Year  and Christmas.

According to the press service of Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan  congratulated and wished all employees of the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs and all diplomatic missions of Armenia abroad on the  forthcoming holidays. The Head of State congratulated all diplomats  accredited in Yerevan and asked them to convey greetings to their  colleagues. During the reception, the President of the Republic of  Armenia awarded a group of persons for his contribution to the  negotiation process over the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union.

The President noted that the meetings at the end of the year became a  tradition, which makes it possible to sum up the results of the year.  As Sargsyan pointed out, Armenia continues to act as a reliable  international partner, which is ready for open cooperation on  different platforms, is perceived by its aspirations and is able to  combine relations with different partners.

Serzh Sargsyan reminded that next year Armenia will host the 17th  summit of the Francophonie, "perhaps the most ambitious event since  our independence." As the president emphasized, the republic should  approach seriously to the organization and holding of the summit and  chairmanship in an organization that unites almost half of the world.  "Of course, all state structures of Armenia, including all  institutions, will participate in this event, but the lion's share of  the organizational and political component of this work will be on  your shoulders. And it's very natural that I ask and demand to  approach to work with great responsibility," - he declared. The  President noted that last year there were shortcomings and unfinished  business, on the basis of this, next year the country will move  forward with an obligation to correct deficiencies, to finish  unfinished and, of course, to bring new, constructive and creative  ideas. As Serzh Sargsyan pointed out, Armenia is in the process of  active reforms, and the April parliamentary elections have become a  unique test of this reform. "With the change of the Constitution, we  have chosen a long-term and sustainable development model on which  the new generation of Armenia will be based. One of the achievements  of 2017 was the signing of the Agreement on Comprehensive and  Expanded Partnership between the Republic of Armenia and the European  Union. This is best evidence that in the case commitment, focus and  consistent work can achieve the desired result, "- he said. According  to Sargsyan, consistent work has also yielded positive results in the  Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic  Union. An exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, as the head of the republic emphasized, remains on the  first place of our foreign and security policy. "Regardless of the  tangible progress in the negotiation process, we can say that after a  one-year break the Geneva meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and  Azerbaijan took place, as a result of which a joint statement and an  agreement on easing tension was reached, in this regard, the  international community and Armenia speak the same language", he  said, stressing that this is best reflected both in the statement of  the heads of delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group countries' chairmen,  and in the statement of the CSTO summit and the Comprehensive and  Racial Agreement wide partnership between the Republic of Armenia and  the European Union, "the president said.

"Life, of course, is not monotonous, and in life there is a place for  both positive and negative, so 2018 should be as positive as possible  for our people and state, a year of peace, development and progress  full of satisfaction and smiles. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas,  thank you, "concluded Serzh Sargsyan.