Question: The Foreign Minister will pay a visit to the Middle East in the coming days. In general, what is the importance of the Middle Eastern countries for Armenia's foreign policy?

Ruben Karpetyan: The Middle East is of utmost importance for Armenia , and it is not a secret that the Middle East is an integral part of our comprehensive security environment, within which the Armenian statehood operates. We were a part of the Middle East region, an active participant through years, and we faced existential issues of peace and war. We are connected with this region through many bonds, interests. And it’s the realization of the abovementioned, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed and finalized its Middle East strategy this year.

Question: How would you define it?

Ruben Karapetyan: I would define it a sovereign strategy, which means that, in fact, all the visits and programs that we have developed towards the Middle East will create a solid basis for the establishment of a relevant platform for pursuing our state interests and conducting equal, mutually beneficial cooperation with our partner countries. It will also define the framework of our mutual interests. All these are aimed at ensuring, guiding and promoting Armenia’s state and national interests.

Question: Mr Karapetyan, in the past, at least for the last decade, it seemed that Armenia's interests in the Middle East have been, if not inert, but very neutral. What was it about? What has changed today?

Ruben Karapetyan: You are right, it seems like an axiom that everyone realizes the importance of the Middle East for Armenia. Armenia is not only a part of the Big Middle East, is not only a participant of the geopolitics of the recently spoken three seas - the Caspian Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean; Armenia is an integral part of that region.

Question: Although Turkey claims that only Sevan is ours. 

Ruben Karapetyan: That’s another topic of discussion. Maybe we'll talk about that later. But the question is, as you framed it, what has changed? First of all I will say that last year during our traditional meeting of diplomats, we enshrined three key foreign policy principles: sovereignty, pan-Armenianism, and cooperation. And we visualize the meaning of these three principles deeply and substantively, that they will be a guideline for both the foreing policy and the whole diplomatic function. 

That’s why I mentioned the new Middle East sovereign strategy of Armenia, because here lies the interests of ensuring our sovereignty. And today all the security risks and threats that exist in the Middle East make the redefinition, presentation and pursuing of Armenia’s interests much more vital and imperative.  

Question: Let’s talk more objectively. In the near future what level of dialogue do you envisage with the countries of the Middle East region? What are your plans?

Ruben Karapetyan: The first visit will be to Egypt, because this country is one of the "heavyweights" of the Arab world. The voice of Egypt is decisive in many cases for various Arab countries. Egypt plays a key role in various security and military-political issues. Egypt is an active participant in the threats of today's Middle East, including the events in North Africa. Deepening of multilayered bilateral relations, including on issues related to comprehensive security and in other directions, derives from Armenia’s state and national interests.

As you know, the headquarters of the League of Arab States is located in Cairo. It is the only Arab organization that unites 22 Arab states: we have a scheduled meeting here as well. For us, it is a platform where the voice of Armenia will be more vocal and accessible, and we have been represented there a long time ago.

Question: Will you make a few notes from the Minister's agenda?

Ruben Karapetyan: The agenda is clear, but I will probably refer to it after the visit so that we can make some conclusions and assessments. I can say that the Minister will have meetings with high-ranking leadership of Egypt, including the Foreign Minister, religious leaders. 

The above mentioned also includes an important component and this is one of the novelties in our Middle Eastern policy, because Armenia as a nation with a civilizational mission and as a state representing its people must definitely protect the interests of other religious and national minorities. 

In fact, our strategic steps in the Middle East will begin from Egypt, but will not end there. We are considering visits to other Middle Esstern countries as well: Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan etc. It is an important region for us, and we can not be unconcerned about the stability of the Middle East. 

Question: We know that at least for the last one or two years, almost the entire Middle East has been gradually uniting against Turkey: Egypt, Israel, Emirates. In general, we are approaching the Eastern Mediterranean: they have issues with Greece, and Armenia, in fact, has good relations with all the countries I have mentioned, or as you noted, is deepening the relations. From the viewpoint of regional security, what is Armenia’s position regarding Turkey's expansionist actions, taking into account the recent statements on the Eastern Mediterranean as well?

Ruben Karapetyan: We already talked about it. I would prefer not to bring everything to a very primitive formula of “anti-Turkey”, as you have mentioned. That's not the case. Our relations with Egypt are not conditioned by any third country.

Question: But in any case, Turkey is a threat to both Egypt and us.

Ruben Karapetyan: Indeed, in the context of the common threat, we have to work with our partner countries, but I want to say that it is not the only reason behind our Middle East strategy. In a year or two, we can have a much more visible, much more substantial, much tangible role in the Middle Eastern processes. Finally, in a nutshell, this visit will be such a signal to both our neighbors and all our partners that Armenia has returned to the Middle East.