Ambassador Balayan’s speech at the annual gala dinner of the Committee of Armenians in Belgium

12 March, 2025

On March 12, the annual gala dinner of the Committee of Armenians in Belgium took place, attended by Bernard Quintin, Belgian Minister of Security and Home Affairs, Éléonore Simonet, Minister for the Middle Class, Self-Employed, and SMEs, Michel De Maegd, Member of the Belgian House of Representatives and Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Committees, as well as a number of other high-ranking officials, including Eric De Muynck, Ambassador of Belgium to Armenia.

Ambassador Tigran Balayan delivered a welcoming speech at the dinner, highlighting the broad agenda of Armenia-Belgium cooperation. He noted the achievements of recent years, including the inclusion of provisions supporting Armenia in the Belgian government’s coalition agreement, the signing of new trade agreements, and the launch of new projects.

Referring to the experience of the neighboring Netherlands, the Ambassador stated that Armenia aims to elevate its cooperation with Belgium to a qualitatively new level.

Ambassador Balayan also noted that this year marks the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, providing an opportunity for reflection. He emphasized that, having studied past challenges, Armenia is now building its partnerships based on its national interests.

Below is the full text of the speech.

Mes cher compatriots,

Cher Ministre Quitnin,

Chere Ministre Simonet,

Bestes leden van de Kamer en Senaat,

Beste Ambassadeur de Muynck, mon cher collègue,

Chers amis en vos titres et qualites,

Beste vrienden,

Սիրելի հայրենակիցներ,

Ik ben dankbaar voor de gelegenheid om namens de Republiek Armenië tot dit respectvolle publiek te mogen spreken.

Depuis notre dernier rencontre beaucoup de choses ont été évolués, plein de choses ont été changes, la Belgique a des nouveau parlements et gouvernements, mais les réalités en Arménie et ses défis sont toujours là.

Onze samenwerking met Belgie is zich actief. Des nouvelles accords commerciale ont été signes, et nous travaillons sur des autres. Pour la premier fois le soutien de l’Arménie et des autre questions concernant mon pays sont inclus dans l’accord de la coalition gouvernementale. Ik wil graag onze grote dank uitspreken aan de onderhandelaars die hier vanavond aanwezig zijn. Merci.

I will stop tempting your hearing skills with my extremely unskilled Flemish, and continue in English.

In little more than in a month we are going to mark the 110 years since the start of Mets Yeghern – the Armenian Genocide – the darkest day in Armenia’s long history. For me it is a day of sorrow, remembrance and reflection about my people, our country and our abilities to defend ourselves in the context of existential challenges Armenia faces today.

For decades, we believed in the motto Never Again, and trusted that others would care about us and protect our peaceful life, calling them allies. We paid dearly for being so naïve, for relying on others…

In current tectonic geopolitical changes, Republic of Armenia has no right to be fooled again, and we are building our partnerships, based on our national interests. Friendship and partnership with Belgium is fully in line with Armenia’s aspirations and intentions to deepen it to the level of strategic partnership. As you probably know today marked a new milestone in Armenia’s relations with your Northern neighbor, Armenian and Dutch Foreign Ministers signed Declaration on Strategic Partnership.

As a former Ambassador to the Netherlands I am extremely glad for this result and hope, with active support from different political actors of Belgium, to achieve the same with my host country.

Beste vrienden,

The outstanding feature of Armenian Diasporas in the world is the ability to combine the two identities, thus playing a crucial role in creating and expanding the bonds between their home country and Armenia, and I believe that Belgian Armenians can further contribute in expanding the partnership, but also contributing to development and resilience of Armenia, as many of present here are already doing.

And on this positive note I woold like to wish you a bonne soiree and geselig.

Bedankt et merci.

MFA RA
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