A few days ago, I invited a large group of bloggers to the construction site of the Jesus Christ statue. Given the size of their audiences—hundreds of thousands, even millions of viewers—I shared a specific message with them: tell your followers that this dispirited moment isn’t who we are. It is only temporary.
This feeling of defeat that has settled over our people is simply not who we are. Regardless of one’s social status, age, or where in the world an Armenian may live, a kind of helplessness has seeped into our spirit.
I asked the bloggers—and now I ask absolutely everyone—to spread the word: explain, encourage, inspire, and lift people up. We are not a diminished nation; we are a capable and determined nation with vast strengths and possibilities.
Our defeat in the last war and the loss of Artsakh undoubtedly broke us. We began to doubt ourselves. But we must recognize that this, too, is temporary.
Throughout history, Armenians have played a major role in the development of civilization—science, literature, culture, sports—every field. Wherever you go around the world, you will find buildings built by Armenians: theaters, hospitals, churches, schools. In many countries, we have distinguished compatriots with great influence, significant resources, deep love for Armenia, and a readiness to do anything for our homeland. We must engage them, empower them, and work with them in a coordinated way.
Here in Armenia, we have a remarkable generation of young people who will soon take the country’s future into their own hands and lead it to great achievements. I have no doubt about this.
We must stand tall again, rebuild our country, and fear nothing.
This sense of helplessness is our enemy—and we will overcome it. Every problem has a solution. And once the world sees that we have shaken off this weakness, it will respect us. We will gain strong allies and true friends.
Every day, at every opportunity, I ask that we spread this message: we are a nation with real strength and real potential. We will lift our heads again, and we will achieve great things.
One of the core missions of the Offer to Armenia program is precisely this: to overcome helplessness, to restore the Armenian people’s confidence in their own abilities, to accomplish great work, and to achieve great success.