Armenia

On January 1, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the people on New Year and Christmas, the Press Office of the Armenian Prime Minister reported.

He noted, "It is thanks to the people who work, are creative in their work, and pay the taxes stipulated by the law that for the third year in a row, from January 1, the salary of researchers will increase. It is thanks to people who are creative in their work, bring new ideas, and are not afraid of the responsibility of realizing those ideas, that since 2018, 190 thousand jobs have been created in Armenia."

"As the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, I address you with a New Year message for the 6th time. The retrospect of our joint journey evokes feelings of pain and regret but also pride. We have talked and talked much about pain and regret, but on this New Year's Eve, I want to bow and express my pride for each of you that with unbearable burdens on our shoulders, we were able and can lead our state, the Republic of Armenia, through the extremely complicated path of strengthening independence and sovereignty. When I think about the path we have passed, I understand that this history is beyond the understanding of wrong and right decisions, and we are moving through the only possible path, even though extremely vicious, that will allow us to inherit a state for our generations," the Armenian leader added.

Pashinyan emphasized, "I also want to apologize to each and every one of you, to all citizens of the Republic of Armenia, to all our brothers and sisters who became refugees from Nagorno Karabakh for the pain you have suffered in recent years. I apologize not because I have committed any crime before you or I have forgotten any responsibility or obligation before you even for a moment, but because I know your feelings and I have the same feeling. But this feeling cannot in any way undermine my duty as the head of the state, which means that all my decisions and actions must be based on the state interest of the Republic of Armenia. This is the reason why I consider it a priority to find formulas for the normalization and deepening of relations with our neighbors in our region, and I will continue to resolutely follow that path for the sake of the state, for the sake of the future, for the sake of generations."

Azerbaijan

On the same day, Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation on the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and New Year, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani President reported.

Regarding the Karabakh conflict with Armenia, Aliyev noted, "In April 2023, we fully restored our territorial integrity. A border checkpoint was established on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in the direction of Lachin, and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has been fully restored since that day. The people of Azerbaijan remember very well the anxiety that it caused around the world, especially in Western countries standing behind Armenia and constantly supporting it, as well as the baseless accusations made against us. But no accusations and pressure could affect our resolve. I said back then that no one could influence our determination. We are on the right path, we have regained control over our border, and we will not allow anyone to call the shots on our land. This is our land, we are the owners of this land, and we will do whatever we think is necessary within the framework of international law, including international humanitarian law. But that did not serve as a lesson for the occupiers. It did not serve as a lesson for the anti-Azerbaijani forces standing behind them either. This is why the anti-terrorist operation carried out in September was inevitable, we carried it out and are proud of it. Every citizen of Azerbaijan and every Azerbaijani across the world rightly feels proud of that."

The Azerbaijani leader also slammed the West: "Double standards are pervasive in the West today. The people of Azerbaijan are well aware of this and, at the same time, know perfectly well that we will do what we think is right despite all the pressures, threats, and unfounded accusations. We will continue to do as we have done to this day. The Armenian leadership should also draw the right conclusions from these historical lessons and behave in such a way as not to provoke our anger."

"Our historic victory, our victory in the Second Karabakh War, the anti-terrorist operation, liberation from the occupiers, and the collapse of the separatist regime have rightly brought all Azerbaijanis together into one fist. The Iron Fist has been the symbol of our victorious chronicle. Today, the Iron Fist is also a symbol of our unity, and I would like to assure the people of Azerbaijan and all Azerbaijanis of the world that the Iron Fist will always be in place," he concluded.

Georgia

On January 1, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili also released a congratulatory statement, the Press Office of the Georgian government reported.

Garibashvili stressed, "Amidst such difficult challenges all over the world, we succeeded in ensuring peace and made the most significant steps forward for the development of our country. As a result of joint efforts made by our people and authorities, Georgia now stands as an outstanding leader globally with its economic advancement and democracy. These developments have been crown-jeweled by the status of an EU Candidate Country, which has been granted in recognition of our united efforts based on dignity and truth, thus being a historic event for the country. This achievement, backed by our ancestors' great legacy, not only defined the irreversible, better future and decent role of Georgia in the family of free nations of Europe but drew the new contours of the EU itself."

He noted: "Strong, united and developed, European state to be built with our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and all the people living on this land should again be based solely on this unity. That is why the role played by each of you in this process is irreplaceable and unique."