MFA: Stepanakert`s voice must be decisive 

ArmInfo. Despite the scarcity of budgetary financing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has done everything possible to effectively promote Armenia's foreign policy  course.  During the hearings on the report on the implementation of  the 2017 budget in the Armenian parliament, Armenian Foreign Minister  Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated.

According to him, in 2017, the budget of the Foreign Ministry was  14.5 billion AMD, for the implementation of 16 programs. The budget  was fulfilled by 97%, the saved 120 million were returned to the  government.  Out of the sums provided, 10 bln AMD or $ 20 mln was  spent on the expenses of Armenia's diplomatic missions abroad.  According to Mnatsakanyan, Armenia has a professional and established  diplomatic corps. He stressed that in the near future steps will be  implemented in the direction of further increasing the effectiveness  of Armenian diplomats abroad.

Another $ 2 billion or $ 4.5 million was spent on repaying Armenia's  membership fees in international organizations. The debt of the  republic on this line is currently $ 1.4 million, which, according to  the minister, accumulated in the first years of independence of the  republic. Nevertheless, as Mnatsakanyan said, Armenia is not deprived  of the right to vote in any international organization.

Touching upon foreign policy priorities, Mnatsakanyan stressed the  need to continue peaceful negotiations on the Karabakh settlement  under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, the emphasis in which  should be placed on the components of recognition of the status and  security of Artsakh. "Of course, Stepanakert's voice should be  decisive in this process," the minister stressed.

He also said that Armenia will continue to seek international  recognition of the Armenian Genocide and prevent similar crimes in  the future, initiating various activities at the international level  in this direction.

The need for an objective assessment of the Diaspora's potential and  its effective use in the state building and prosperity of Armenia was  also stressed.