Updates
Domestic visits
20
08, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan met with the participants of Miasin 2011 Forum and Ari Tun program
On August 20, President Serzh Sargsyan met in Sevan national park with the participants of the Miasin (Together) youth movement which organized its third in a row Miasin 2011 Pan-Armenian Youth Forum. The participants of the Miasin 2011 were joined by the Armenian youth from Diaspora which have arrived to Armenia in the framework of the Ari Tun (Come Home) program.
The President of Armenia noted with satisfaction that during last month he has been meeting with young people in the framework of different programs and events and said that it was very inspiring. Serzh Sargsyan noted in particular that in Tsakhkadzor he met with the fellows of the Lyus Foundation for 2011, who are attending the world’s best universities, as well as participants of the All-Armenian 5th Olympiad, who demonstrated excellent knowledge of the Armenian literature and history, and 3500 participants of the 5th Pan-Armenian Games who have arrived to Armenia from 125 cities and towns of the world. “When our young people self-organize, raise issues which concern them, unite around one task and strive to assert their convictions, it is very commendable,” President Sargsyan said.
“I would like to recognize young people of the Miasin movement and participants of the Ari Tun program because we, Armenians are one united nation which due to certain reasons live in different corners of the world,” President Serzh Sargsyan said and added that in the absence of abundant natural resources, our greatest resource in Armenia and beyond are the people who are excited with our country’s success, who rejoice and take pride in the achievements of the Armenians living all over the world.
“I want your devotion to our country be perpetual. Our strength is in our devotion to our Motherland, to our national ideas, and our future. And I have no doubt whatsoever that our future is bright,” Serzh Sargsyan noted.
The leader of the Miasin movement Hakop Hakopian presented to the President of Armenia achievements of the movement in the last four years and noted that the Miasin has been taking active participation in the reforms carried out in the country and in the policy of modernization and stands ready to bring its active participation, including participation in the electoral processes.
“It is very inspiring that young people are ready to participate in the resolution of the problems facing our country. However, it cannot be any other way,” the President of Armenia said and stressed the importance of the young people’s active participation in the electoral processes.
Later, President Serzh Sargsyan answered questions posed by the participants of the Miasin 2011 all-Armenian educational forum and the Ari Tun program.
Answering the question related to the resolution of the NK issue, the President of Armenia said in particular, “It is a very complex issue because it is painful for all parties involved and its roots run deep. For decades, the people of Azerbaijan were being instilled the idea that Karabakh belonged to Azerbaijan and now the leadership of Azerbaijan faces immense complexes since they have never tried to be honest with their own people, to conduct an open conversation and tell them: you know what, people, this is Armenian land, Armenians have been living here for ages and it would be nice, since first of all it stems from our own interests, if we respect freedom of these people, so that they and we live happily. I am confident, these times will come. No matter how difficult it is, we have to solve the issue peacefully, and when I say “we” I mean Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Although, I repeat, it is a thorny issue. And how it can be not difficult when the Azeri leadership everyday voices anti-Armenian slogans, when hatred is being promulgated regularly. You see, our generation has somehow got used to it because it’s been going on for years now, repeating itself as a broken plate, introducing every now and then some new tinges. You certainly cannot remember but your parents, your older friends would remember that in the beginning of the 90-s Presidents of Azerbaijan – Ayaz Mutalibov, Abulfaz Elchibei – were telling the same tale of how powerful Azerbaijan was, how weak Armenia and Karabakh were, how great in numbers Azeris were and how small in numbers Armenians were. The same story is being told now, isn’t it? The Azerbaijani President doesn’t tire to repeat that Azerbaijan has lots of money, a powerful economy, that its population is 9 million people while there is nobody left in Armenia, etc. Azerbaijan has had only one president who was more or less realistic. The rest of them were using today’s rhetoric. And what happened? Everybody knows quite well what happened. I am confident that military actions is a road leading nowhere. Azerbaijan is not able to establish military advantage over Armenia.
Who among you has visited the Nagorno Karabakh Republic? Have you met anyone there who doubts that they are an independent state? Of course, not. The people of Nagorno Karabakh have realized their right of self-determination long ago and now they are mastering their own destiny. Today, Nagorno Karabakh faces the problem of recognition which will be solved sooner or later. When it’s going to be solved is another issue because the sooner it’s solved, the better for Azerbaijan, for Armenia and for Karabakh.”
The President of Armenia noted with satisfaction that during last month he has been meeting with young people in the framework of different programs and events and said that it was very inspiring. Serzh Sargsyan noted in particular that in Tsakhkadzor he met with the fellows of the Lyus Foundation for 2011, who are attending the world’s best universities, as well as participants of the All-Armenian 5th Olympiad, who demonstrated excellent knowledge of the Armenian literature and history, and 3500 participants of the 5th Pan-Armenian Games who have arrived to Armenia from 125 cities and towns of the world. “When our young people self-organize, raise issues which concern them, unite around one task and strive to assert their convictions, it is very commendable,” President Sargsyan said.
“I would like to recognize young people of the Miasin movement and participants of the Ari Tun program because we, Armenians are one united nation which due to certain reasons live in different corners of the world,” President Serzh Sargsyan said and added that in the absence of abundant natural resources, our greatest resource in Armenia and beyond are the people who are excited with our country’s success, who rejoice and take pride in the achievements of the Armenians living all over the world.
“I want your devotion to our country be perpetual. Our strength is in our devotion to our Motherland, to our national ideas, and our future. And I have no doubt whatsoever that our future is bright,” Serzh Sargsyan noted.
The leader of the Miasin movement Hakop Hakopian presented to the President of Armenia achievements of the movement in the last four years and noted that the Miasin has been taking active participation in the reforms carried out in the country and in the policy of modernization and stands ready to bring its active participation, including participation in the electoral processes.
“It is very inspiring that young people are ready to participate in the resolution of the problems facing our country. However, it cannot be any other way,” the President of Armenia said and stressed the importance of the young people’s active participation in the electoral processes.
Later, President Serzh Sargsyan answered questions posed by the participants of the Miasin 2011 all-Armenian educational forum and the Ari Tun program.
Answering the question related to the resolution of the NK issue, the President of Armenia said in particular, “It is a very complex issue because it is painful for all parties involved and its roots run deep. For decades, the people of Azerbaijan were being instilled the idea that Karabakh belonged to Azerbaijan and now the leadership of Azerbaijan faces immense complexes since they have never tried to be honest with their own people, to conduct an open conversation and tell them: you know what, people, this is Armenian land, Armenians have been living here for ages and it would be nice, since first of all it stems from our own interests, if we respect freedom of these people, so that they and we live happily. I am confident, these times will come. No matter how difficult it is, we have to solve the issue peacefully, and when I say “we” I mean Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Although, I repeat, it is a thorny issue. And how it can be not difficult when the Azeri leadership everyday voices anti-Armenian slogans, when hatred is being promulgated regularly. You see, our generation has somehow got used to it because it’s been going on for years now, repeating itself as a broken plate, introducing every now and then some new tinges. You certainly cannot remember but your parents, your older friends would remember that in the beginning of the 90-s Presidents of Azerbaijan – Ayaz Mutalibov, Abulfaz Elchibei – were telling the same tale of how powerful Azerbaijan was, how weak Armenia and Karabakh were, how great in numbers Azeris were and how small in numbers Armenians were. The same story is being told now, isn’t it? The Azerbaijani President doesn’t tire to repeat that Azerbaijan has lots of money, a powerful economy, that its population is 9 million people while there is nobody left in Armenia, etc. Azerbaijan has had only one president who was more or less realistic. The rest of them were using today’s rhetoric. And what happened? Everybody knows quite well what happened. I am confident that military actions is a road leading nowhere. Azerbaijan is not able to establish military advantage over Armenia.
Who among you has visited the Nagorno Karabakh Republic? Have you met anyone there who doubts that they are an independent state? Of course, not. The people of Nagorno Karabakh have realized their right of self-determination long ago and now they are mastering their own destiny. Today, Nagorno Karabakh faces the problem of recognition which will be solved sooner or later. When it’s going to be solved is another issue because the sooner it’s solved, the better for Azerbaijan, for Armenia and for Karabakh.”