Departing Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan, in a farewell meeting with staffers today, accused the government of pursuing a foreign policy that runs counter to Armenian state and national interests, thus forcing him to leave on principle.

Ayvazyan skirted any specifics as to why he decided to resign, saying that his guiding working principle while in office was that the ministry “must steadfastly defend our sovereignty, our independence, our state and national interests.”

“I hope I have not shamed you. My decision to resign was conditioned by that very reason. So that there would never be any doubt that this ministry can take any step or agree to any ideas or initiatives that are against our statehood, our national and state interest,” Ayvazyan said.

Ayvazyan said he could not, in good faith, sign off on any such decisions down the road.

Despite the criticism levied against the foreign ministry following the military defeat in last year’s war, Ayvazyan said that Armenian diplomacy “is not defeated”.

“All of us, at this ministry and in our embassies, have proved that not only are we not defeated, but are able to advance our state and national interests,” he said, adding that he can leave with his head held high.

Ayvazyan, who resigned earlier this week, said that when he accepted the post last November, right after Armenia signed a Russian-brokered ceasefire in the Karabakh war, he realized the enormity of responsibility to be shouldered but felt an obligation to serve his nation.

"When I agreed to take this position, it was the most difficult, but at the same time, the easiest decision of my life. It was an easy decision because I, personally, and I am sure you all realized, that we owe it to our victims, we owe it to our country,” Ayvazyan said.