Dear compatriots in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,
The Armenian people spread across the world are currently living through one of the most pivotal moments in our nation’s thousand-year history.
The goals we collectively pursued as a nation after the long-desired independence of the motherland have been shaken.
We were defeated in the war imposed upon us, both on the battlefield and on diplomatic and international public platforms.
Once again, I extend my condolences to the families and relatives of the fallen, and I wish the wounded a speedy recovery.
We are the children of a people that survived and overcame the Genocide.
One may lose a battle, but it is unacceptable to lose as a nation.
A house set ablaze by one’s own hands and a lost homeland can be restored in only one way: by rediscovering our victory and building the state of which we can all truly be proud.
And we can certainly do this, by soberly assessing the situation, drawing lessons from the mistakes made, and uniting in the national revival.
Whatever the differences in our assessments of the past, it is evident that we are faced with unprecedented challenges.
Artsakh is gravely wounded.
We have a turbulent society.
The wounded economy is burdened with immense social problems.
As a result of the large flow of people relocated from Artsakh to Armenia, there is a humanitarian disaster.
The situation caused by the pandemic is also extremely difficult.
Finally, the spirit of the Armenian has been wounded in every corner of the world.
Our country today is no longer the country we had on 26 September, and not even what we had on 8 November.
We cannot ignore this reality and continue living an ordinary life.
Over the past few days, in keeping with the imperative of the moment, I have held political consultations and several dozen meetings with parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces, various public organisations and individuals. I have had telephone conversations with various structures of the Diaspora and our compatriots.
The overwhelming majority of meeting participants agree on one issue: the resignation of the Prime Minister or the termination of his tenure in accordance with the Constitution, and snap parliamentary elections.
It is evident that despite the cessation of the war, the Republic of Artsakh, the Republic of Armenia and the entire Armenian people are entering a period of new trials, in which every mistake can have disastrous consequences.
In the current situation, there is no alternative for the Armenian people but to be united and consolidated.
In these days, each of us, especially political figures and state officials, must demonstrate high responsibility and restraint, concentrating efforts exclusively on seeking ways to overcome the current crisis.
In this situation, I want to address the law-enforcement bodies.
You bear a very great responsibility today: first and foremost, to ensure order in our country, to be firm and decisive, but, at the same time, to remember on every occasion and at every opportunity that before you stands your sister or your brother.
Any deviation, any violation of the law and legality, is unacceptable and unforgivable. I call upon you to preserve and protect the law and legality.
My observations formed as a result of the meetings and consultations are as follows:
Taking into account the current situation and the imperative of overcoming it with dignity, heeding the public demand, it is evident that in order to keep the country free from shocks, snap elections of the National Assembly will ultimately be inevitable.
In this context, in my opinion, the only responsible approach can be for the government and the ruling political force to objectively assess their own potential and present, within a short timeframe, a roadmap providing for the timelines for initiating the relevant constitutional processes, as a result of which it will become possible to hold snap elections of the National Assembly, and until then, governance will be handed over to a highly qualified government of national accord.
For the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and the entire Armenian people living in different countries of the world, my above-mentioned observations aimed at overcoming the crisis in these difficult days derive exclusively from nationwide and pan-national interests.
I hope that all political forces will realise the responsibility of the moment and worthily fulfil their part of the historic mission.
I want to remind that today everyone is watching Armenia — both our friends and our enemies.
We have no other duty but to strengthen our country.
We have no other path but to unite the people, without yielding to any word or step that carries the danger of dividing society.
Only through unity will we be able to straighten our backs from the state of being bent under the burden of defeat, and present ourselves, both to ourselves and to future generations and the world community, as the children of a people that cannot be defeated.
I am confident that the Armenian people will emerge with honour and victory from the difficult situation created.
May God protect us all:
