Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan at the joint press conference with the President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski

Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I once again welcome the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Komorowski, Mrs. Komorowski and the accompanying delegation to the Republic of Armenia.

Since our two countries became independent, relations between Armenia and Poland have been developing consistently. We view Poland as a friendly state, a reliable partner and most importantly a country with which we have common values; friendship based on that values is trustworthy and unshakeable.

I would like to note with satisfaction that the Armenian-Polish dialogue, which has interstate basis, is developing and expanding with every year, encompassing numerous areas of cooperation. I also view the visit by President Komorowski as a significant step in that direction and pronounced manifestation of the desire to move forward and deepen our high-level relations.

The agenda of our negotiations was pretty extensive and I would like to note the most important point: the two sides reiterated the mutual desire and readiness to further strengthen bilateral relations. It was noted that the existing political dialogue between Armenia and Poland, cooperation in the trade, economic and cultural areas has great potential. We agreed to put extra efforts in giving new impetus and content to the Armenian-Polish cooperation. Signed were documents aimed at the expansion of our bilateral contacts, augmenting the number of those who will benefit from it.

First of all, we paid attention to the development of the economic component of our relations. With this regard we noted that there is a good basis for the cooperation in the areas of agriculture, tourism and energy. I am glad that President Komorowski is accompanied by the delegation of businessmen. I hope that they will find good partners in Armenia.

We have also discussed key regional and international issues, and stressed the importance of conducting regular consultations in the international organizations.

We have also stressed the importance of deepening cultural and human contacts.

Friendship of the Armenian and Polish people dates back centuries; in our times it evolves and acquires new qualities. We have agreed to use every possibility to develop cultural, scientific and educational ties, including contacts among young people and encouraging exchanges.

We have discussed in detail prospects of cooperation in the framework of EU and Armenia’s participation to the Eastern Partnership program, which is co-authored and actively promoted by Poland. Together with President Komorowski we have outlined our future steps in the framework of this program and in the context of the Polish presidency at the EU and Eastern Partnership Summit to be held this September in Warsaw.

I presented to the President of Poland the current stage of the peace process aimed at the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, a conflict which erupted as a result of the violation of the NK people’s right for self-determination. We have also noted that we, as well as the international community had great expectations from the Kazan meeting. Unfortunately those expectations came to naught. In Kazan we actually were very close to achieving success. The legitimate right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to master their own destiny, to have security guarantees and prosper in their historical land must be respected; it must be respected by every one. There is no other solution.

I am also glad to state once again that Poland is Armenia’s long-standing friend with whom we can freely and comfortably discuss any issue and anticipate assistance.



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President Serzh Sargsyan responded to the questions of the Armenian and Polish journalists at the Joint Press Conference with the President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski

Interfax Agency: The President of Armenia announced in Strasburg, at the Council of Europe that Nagorno Karabakh is part of Europe. As proponents of the Eastern Partnership and Eurointegration in general, don’t you think that the European Union should provide financial and technical assistance to the process of reformation in NK, since whether it is recognized or not, Karabakh is conducting reforms aimed at the strengthening of democracy?

S. Sargsyan: Democracy is an absolute value and with this regard we highly value any assistance to democracy. Thus, if tomorrow EU starts providing assistance to Nagorno Karabakh aimed at the strengthening of the democratic structures or state structures, we will be happy. The people of Nagorno Karabakh certainly anticipate such assistance because for the last 17 years they have been following that course. Nagorno Karabakh holds regular elections, which are conducted in accordance with the international standards, and it makes them and us proud. Parliamentary elections conducted in Karabakh provided all political forces with the opportunity to be represented in the Parliament. So far, Nagorno Karabakh has held three Presidential elections, elected three presidents and none of them inherited power. For that very reason the elected authorities of Nagorno Karabakh, to their credit, have never used abusive language with regard to the people of Azerbaijan. The same cannot be said about the leadership of the neighboring country which is, of course, able to speak distinctly but is not able to conceal its hatred. As it is well-known, a person, who is full of animosity is not able to make good, sound decisions and in such circumstances the assistance of the EU to Nagorno Karabakh is certainly a must.

Public Television of Poland: Is there a possibility for a durable and peaceful resolution of the NK conflict after the Kazan fiasco? If yes, what are the requirements that Azerbaijan must fulfill with regard to Armenia to reach a truly lasting solution?

S. Sargsyan: I certainly wouldn’t call the Kazan meeting a fiasco, although as I have already mentioned, we as well as the international community had certain expectations regarding that meeting. Just happened something which was expected to happen, something I spoke about at the PACE. It is first of all deficiency of the corresponding environment and it is the environment that has to be improved in the first place. It is impermissible to instill poison into one’s own people on a daily basis, at every level. Have you seen yesterday’s international news? Are you aware of the words the President of Azerbaijan used regarding the Armenian people? Would a normal person do it, to say nothing of the leader of a country? The people of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenians in general have one single demand: the issues must be solved in accordance with the international law; the principles of that law are laid out in the document named the “Madrid Principles” which have been proposed to the parties by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group – the United States, France and Russia. We have no other demands. Our demands concur with the demands of the international community.

Prosawa Agency: My question pertains to the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Warsaw. Mr. President, what are your expectations regarding the Eastern Partnership?

S. Sargsyan: First of all, we expect that the Summit in Warsaw will exhibit a differentiated approach, differentiated assessments. However, it doesn’t mean that if there is no differentiated approach or no differentiated assessments, we will stop reforms. Of course, not. Our country, as any other country conducts reforms not to report about our achievements but because we know that there is no development without that reforms, we know that there is no strong state without reforms and we know that we cannot build developed society without reforms. However when assessments are made regardless of progress but rather based on certain considerations, I believe it clearly goes against the principles of that very policy. In a nutshell, greater assistance for greater progress; differentiated approach, nothing else.