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President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev lauded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a true national leader of Armenia during an awarding ceremony in Astana.
Tokayev bestowed on PM Pashinyan the Order of the Golden Eagle, the highest state award of Kazakhstan, for outstanding contribution to the development of Kazakh-Armenian relations.
Tokayev said that Pashinyan has managed to breathe a new energy into the development Armenia and give a new impetus to the transformations across all areas of state governance.
Tokayev also praised Pashinyan’s Real Armenia doctrine. “I already said today that you are the author and founder of the Real Armenia concept. I think this is highly important in today’s conditions,” the Kazakh president said.
“Under your far-sighted leadership, Armenia confidently embarked on the path of sustainable progress, and strengthened its position on the international stage, demonstrating a model of thoughtful and responsible domestic and foreign policy. In the most challenging geopolitical situation, you have demonstrated such a valuable quality as the ability to make unconventional and resolute decisions, which will undoubtedly benefit the entire Armenian people. There is no doubt that this shows that friendly, brotherly Armenia has chosen the path of peaceful and sustainable development, which is your historic achievement. I would especially like to highlight your significant role in advancing the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and in signing the corresponding final document in Washington,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
He highlighted that the Kazakh-Armenian interstate relations are moving to the level of strategic partnership today.
“Your active involvement in developing multifaceted cooperation between our countries has largely contributed to this. In recognition of your exceptional role and outstanding contribution to the development of Kazakh-Armenian relations, I have decided to present you today with the highest state award of the Republic of Kazakhstan – the Order of “Altyn Qyran”, the Golden Eagle. I am confident that this event will become yet another vivid symbol of unbreakable brotherhood, mutual trust, and the shared aspirations for the future of our peoples,” President Tokayev said.
PM Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and entire Kazakh people for honoring him with the highest state award of Kazakhstan and emphasized that he regards this award as a sign of special respect for the Armenian people.
“It is a great honor for me to be presented with the highest award of the brotherly Kazakhstan and to receive it personally from you. You are a highly experienced politician, statesman, and diplomat, and your recognition means a lot. I am confident that this award will contribute to further development not only of our bilateral relations, but also our entire region,” the Prime Minister of Armenia said.
Pashinyan highlighted the Kazakh leader’s personal contribution in the peace process with Azerbaijan.
“I have already said how much I appreciate your personal support for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. You have been deeply interested—and continue to be interested—in establishing long-term stability in our region. I have also said that Kazakhstan holds great importance for us, not only in practical terms but also symbolically and meaningfully, in the context of our foreign and regional policy, since our external and regional relations are based on the Alma-Ata Declaration as the foundation of our foreign policy ideology. And, by the way, the Alma-Ata Declaration is also very important for the ideology of the Real Armenia,” the Prime Minister of Armenia said. Nikol Pashinyan thanked Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for such a high assessment, for the hospitality, and for the warm reception.