Updates
Press releases
05
11, 2008
President Serzh Sargsyan’s speech at the meeting with the representatives of the Armenian-Belgian community
5 November, 2008
Brussels
Dear Compatriots,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am happy to meet with the representatives of the Armenian community of Belgium and communicate with our compatriots whose true devotion contributes to the empowerment of our Motherland. Thanks to you all, the Armenian people not only have a representation here, at the capital of the United Europe, but also a dynamically developing community which embodies the best traditions of the preservation of the Armenian identity. Thanks to the active works of the Diaspora structures and spiritual leadership of the traditional Armenian churches, today in the heart of Europe we have the army of devotees dedicated to the implementation of the political agenda, and which should become one of the best representatives of the emerging political interests of the Armenians of Europe.
During past years, the diplomatic representation of Armenia in Brussels in particular and our entire nation in general have been benefiting from your many-sided support. With this regard, I express my gratitude and anticipate the implementation of even greater projects through our joint efforts.
Wherever I go in the world, I always try to get the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the Armenian community. First of all, it is a heart’s desire for any Armenian, who no matter where, for what purpose, and under what responsibilities, is constantly looking around himself for the Armenians. My second purpose is to tell our compatriots all over the world about Armenia and our objectives, present to them our achievements and problems since achievements as well as disappointments of our country are our own. And lastly, because these meetings are a good occasion for me to personally to bring to our compatriots abroad the call that our fight has not ended with Armenia’s re-gained independence, with many challenges she went through, even though now we are rebounding. On the contrary, we are entering a new stage of the implementation of national projects, and we are facing now tasks of development and advancement.
Today Armenia is a dynamically developing state which has a stable financial system and a growing economy. In the 9 months of 2008, our economy grew by 10.4 per cent under the 4.2 per cent inflation. When because of the well-known events in South Ossetia our economy took a direct blow, we were able to overcome the situation as painlessly as possible. You are well aware that seventy per cent of the Armenia’s foreign trade is conducted via Georgia and one can realize what kind of damage closed roads can bring to Armenia. We have been able also to avoid the first, probably the gravest wave of the global economic crisis. Today we are developing measures in different areas toward counterbalancing the possible impact of the crisis on the tempo of our economic growth. Moreover, many Armenian businessmen, who suffered the consequences of the crisis in different countries of the world, are looking toward Armenia, observing in the Motherland required stability and opportunities for conducting business.
It would be difficult to find another land-locked country whose two neighbors out of four subject it to blockade. We have learned to work and achieve serious results under these conditions. However, it doesn’t mean that those borders must remain closed for ever, or there should be no steps directed at their opening. Our position on this issue, as well as on the relations with our neighbors, has been stated repeatedly.
All those gathered today acutely realize the importance of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The contribution of Diaspora and your particular community to this issue is enormous. The well-known resolution of the European Parliament adopted in 1987 in Brussels became a base for the subsequent acts signifying the establishment of historic justice.
I believe that while acknowledging the existence of this issue, we should move forward toward the establishment of normal relations with Turkey. Based on this conviction, I, as President of the Republic of Armenia, made the first significant step, inviting the President of Turkey, Mr. Gul to Armenia. I am glad that the President of Turkey accepted my invitation and in September we had the opportunity to initiate a process which should result in the establishment of the atmosphere of confidence between the two parties. And mutual confidence can be created through the establishment of diplomatic relations without preconditions and through the multifaceted cooperation.
Normalization of the relations with another neighbor of ours, Azerbaijan, we see in a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict, based on concessions, which must guarantee the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination. We are ready to continue the process of negotiations based on the adopted Madrid principles put into circulation last year. You probably know that just couple of days ago in Moscow, together with the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan we signed a joint Declaration, which, in my opinion, signifies the beginning of the most active phase of the NK conflict resolution.
Dear Compatriots:
Today, in setting our objectives we attach special significance to the establishment of a modern society, where the rule of law and democracy are norms of every day social and personal life. It is no secret that that work suggests not only changes within the state or the laws but also in the public mentality. Ours is a traditional society and regulation of our relations based exclusively on laws would be an appealing but sometimes unattainable goal. To achieve that goal many of the European countries and societies had been compelled to go through the decades, sometimes centuries full of dramatic events. Even though we do not suffer from the lack of events, we all understand that in the era of global competition we have no much time and our reforms should move forward with doubled speed. From this point of view, the utilization of mature democracies’ experience is unavoidable; especially of those we have the identical system of values with.
Possessing such an impressive Armenian presence in Europe, we would like to see your, the Armenians of Europe’s most active involvement in strengthening the EU-Armenia relations. Your experience and knowledge of interacting with the European structures could be of significant assistance and foster new achievements and real success for Armenia.
We should leave a different Armenia to future generations – an advanced, democratic and peaceful Armenia. When I say “we”, I mean the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the entire Armenian nation, all those who consider Armenia their home, all those who proudly tell their children and grandchildren from cradle that they are Armenians, that they have a Motherland at the outskirts of Ararat, and we will leave that Armenia to future generations since nothing more everlasting or precious can be left.
Let us be purposeful and tenacious in fortifying Armenian unity around the Armenian identity. This identity, which comes through the lullaby to our children and grandma’s tales, through the prayer of a parent whose son is leaving to serve in the army and grandpa’s blessing, through the five hundred years of book printing and through the labyrinths of internet. Let us encourage the formation of a new Armenian, free of stereotypes, a new generation totally integrated and successful in the society of the country of their residence, but at the same time infinitely devoted to their historical motherland and their Armenian identity. This is the key of our future success. With this regard the Motherland has a lot to give to the Diaspora. And I am confident, that the recently created Ministry for Diaspora issues will play a significant role in these processes. Moreover, starting this year the Hayastan Foundation will be paying more attention to the Diaspora issues.
Some days ago, I participated at the Hayastan Foundation’s dinner-fund raising event in Yerevan, which precedes the November 27 telemarathon. I would like to inform you all, that in this initial phase of fund raising our businessmen have already pledged 30 mln US dollars to the programs of the Foundation, which is twice as much as the largest amount collected during any of the previous telemarthons. I state this with pride for our people and for our unity.
I have told on many occasions that Armenia is one country without the Diaspora and quite another with the Diaspora. We are proud of you, together we are strong and together we will build the Armenia of our dreams, the Armenia that the entire nation will be proud of.
Thank you for this honorable event, and thank you for your warm reception.
Long live Armenia, and long live the Armenian people.
Thank you.
Brussels
Dear Compatriots,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am happy to meet with the representatives of the Armenian community of Belgium and communicate with our compatriots whose true devotion contributes to the empowerment of our Motherland. Thanks to you all, the Armenian people not only have a representation here, at the capital of the United Europe, but also a dynamically developing community which embodies the best traditions of the preservation of the Armenian identity. Thanks to the active works of the Diaspora structures and spiritual leadership of the traditional Armenian churches, today in the heart of Europe we have the army of devotees dedicated to the implementation of the political agenda, and which should become one of the best representatives of the emerging political interests of the Armenians of Europe.
During past years, the diplomatic representation of Armenia in Brussels in particular and our entire nation in general have been benefiting from your many-sided support. With this regard, I express my gratitude and anticipate the implementation of even greater projects through our joint efforts.
Wherever I go in the world, I always try to get the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the Armenian community. First of all, it is a heart’s desire for any Armenian, who no matter where, for what purpose, and under what responsibilities, is constantly looking around himself for the Armenians. My second purpose is to tell our compatriots all over the world about Armenia and our objectives, present to them our achievements and problems since achievements as well as disappointments of our country are our own. And lastly, because these meetings are a good occasion for me to personally to bring to our compatriots abroad the call that our fight has not ended with Armenia’s re-gained independence, with many challenges she went through, even though now we are rebounding. On the contrary, we are entering a new stage of the implementation of national projects, and we are facing now tasks of development and advancement.
Today Armenia is a dynamically developing state which has a stable financial system and a growing economy. In the 9 months of 2008, our economy grew by 10.4 per cent under the 4.2 per cent inflation. When because of the well-known events in South Ossetia our economy took a direct blow, we were able to overcome the situation as painlessly as possible. You are well aware that seventy per cent of the Armenia’s foreign trade is conducted via Georgia and one can realize what kind of damage closed roads can bring to Armenia. We have been able also to avoid the first, probably the gravest wave of the global economic crisis. Today we are developing measures in different areas toward counterbalancing the possible impact of the crisis on the tempo of our economic growth. Moreover, many Armenian businessmen, who suffered the consequences of the crisis in different countries of the world, are looking toward Armenia, observing in the Motherland required stability and opportunities for conducting business.
It would be difficult to find another land-locked country whose two neighbors out of four subject it to blockade. We have learned to work and achieve serious results under these conditions. However, it doesn’t mean that those borders must remain closed for ever, or there should be no steps directed at their opening. Our position on this issue, as well as on the relations with our neighbors, has been stated repeatedly.
All those gathered today acutely realize the importance of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The contribution of Diaspora and your particular community to this issue is enormous. The well-known resolution of the European Parliament adopted in 1987 in Brussels became a base for the subsequent acts signifying the establishment of historic justice.
I believe that while acknowledging the existence of this issue, we should move forward toward the establishment of normal relations with Turkey. Based on this conviction, I, as President of the Republic of Armenia, made the first significant step, inviting the President of Turkey, Mr. Gul to Armenia. I am glad that the President of Turkey accepted my invitation and in September we had the opportunity to initiate a process which should result in the establishment of the atmosphere of confidence between the two parties. And mutual confidence can be created through the establishment of diplomatic relations without preconditions and through the multifaceted cooperation.
Normalization of the relations with another neighbor of ours, Azerbaijan, we see in a peaceful resolution of the NK conflict, based on concessions, which must guarantee the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination. We are ready to continue the process of negotiations based on the adopted Madrid principles put into circulation last year. You probably know that just couple of days ago in Moscow, together with the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan we signed a joint Declaration, which, in my opinion, signifies the beginning of the most active phase of the NK conflict resolution.
Dear Compatriots:
Today, in setting our objectives we attach special significance to the establishment of a modern society, where the rule of law and democracy are norms of every day social and personal life. It is no secret that that work suggests not only changes within the state or the laws but also in the public mentality. Ours is a traditional society and regulation of our relations based exclusively on laws would be an appealing but sometimes unattainable goal. To achieve that goal many of the European countries and societies had been compelled to go through the decades, sometimes centuries full of dramatic events. Even though we do not suffer from the lack of events, we all understand that in the era of global competition we have no much time and our reforms should move forward with doubled speed. From this point of view, the utilization of mature democracies’ experience is unavoidable; especially of those we have the identical system of values with.
Possessing such an impressive Armenian presence in Europe, we would like to see your, the Armenians of Europe’s most active involvement in strengthening the EU-Armenia relations. Your experience and knowledge of interacting with the European structures could be of significant assistance and foster new achievements and real success for Armenia.
We should leave a different Armenia to future generations – an advanced, democratic and peaceful Armenia. When I say “we”, I mean the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the entire Armenian nation, all those who consider Armenia their home, all those who proudly tell their children and grandchildren from cradle that they are Armenians, that they have a Motherland at the outskirts of Ararat, and we will leave that Armenia to future generations since nothing more everlasting or precious can be left.
Let us be purposeful and tenacious in fortifying Armenian unity around the Armenian identity. This identity, which comes through the lullaby to our children and grandma’s tales, through the prayer of a parent whose son is leaving to serve in the army and grandpa’s blessing, through the five hundred years of book printing and through the labyrinths of internet. Let us encourage the formation of a new Armenian, free of stereotypes, a new generation totally integrated and successful in the society of the country of their residence, but at the same time infinitely devoted to their historical motherland and their Armenian identity. This is the key of our future success. With this regard the Motherland has a lot to give to the Diaspora. And I am confident, that the recently created Ministry for Diaspora issues will play a significant role in these processes. Moreover, starting this year the Hayastan Foundation will be paying more attention to the Diaspora issues.
Some days ago, I participated at the Hayastan Foundation’s dinner-fund raising event in Yerevan, which precedes the November 27 telemarathon. I would like to inform you all, that in this initial phase of fund raising our businessmen have already pledged 30 mln US dollars to the programs of the Foundation, which is twice as much as the largest amount collected during any of the previous telemarthons. I state this with pride for our people and for our unity.
I have told on many occasions that Armenia is one country without the Diaspora and quite another with the Diaspora. We are proud of you, together we are strong and together we will build the Armenia of our dreams, the Armenia that the entire nation will be proud of.
Thank you for this honorable event, and thank you for your warm reception.
Long live Armenia, and long live the Armenian people.
Thank you.