Updates
Press releases
06
10, 2009
President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with representatives of the major Armenian communities of the Middle East, Egypt, Iran and the Persian Gulf countries
The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan continues his Pan-Armenian tour. Concluding his meetings in Los Angeles, the delegation headed by Serzh Sargsyan left for Lebanon. On October 6, in Beirut the President of Armenia held a meeting with over a hundred representatives of the major Armenian communities, national organizations and structures of the Middle East, Egypt, Iran and the Persian Gulf countries.
Before the meeting, the President of Armenia was visited by the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Aram I. Serzh Sargsyan and Aram I discussed issues related to the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and initialed protocols.
The participants of the meeting in Beirut praised the President’s initiative to visit Armenian communities abroad, to listen to their views on the process of normalization and initialed protocols and stated that the Presidential tour has established a new institute of discussions –consultations with the participation of different segments of our world-spread nation on the issues of momentous national significance.
At the beginning of the meeting, the President of Armenia made opening remarks and spoke about main concerns and viewpoints regarding the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and initialed protocols. The participants of the meeting engaged in a lively and open discussion after which the President of Armenia answered their questions.
Serzh Sargsyan said that the meetings, which took place in the framework of the tour, were most productive and noted that besides pros and cons he has also heard many thoughtful proposals related to Armenia-Turkey relations. “The abnormal situation existing currently between Armenia and Turkey is not to anyone’s benefit - ours or theirs. Establishment of relations and border opening will provide an opportunity to create a platform, a more or less tolerable situation to move the dialogue and negotiations forward,” the President of Armenia said.
Speaking about worries related to the normalization of the relations, the President of Armenia stressed, “I have worries too. On many occasions, I am trying to juxtapose my aspirations with the aspirations of those who, I am confident, judging from the bitter experience of the past, believe that there can be no relations and no dialogue with Turkey. This is understandable. Are there concerns? Of course, there are. But can these concerns become an obstacle for establishing relations?” Serzh Sargsyan underlined that concerns were also expressed on the two most important developments that took place in the last twenty years, when we declared independence and during the fight for Artsakh’s freedom and right for self-determination. “And despite the existing concerns, confidence and trust in our own strength brought the desired result,” underscored the President of Armenia.
The President of Armenia elaborated on all main concerns regarding the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and provided additional clarifications. “We have stressed on many occasions that the recognition of Genocide is not only a matter of justice but also an important aspect of security for Armenia and the Armenian people. It is essential,” President Sargsyan noted.
The President of Armenia also observed that as a result of the Armenian-Turkish normalization process, last year references to the Armenian Genocide and coverage of the topic in the leading world media have increased substantially.
Responding to the expressed concern that as a result of the ongoing process Turkey may assume a role in the resolution of the NK conflict, President Sargsyan noted, “the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will find its solution only when we are convinced that we have what we, our people have been fighting for since 1988.” President Sargsyan stressed once again that the normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations and the issues of Artsakh were not linked in any way, which has also been stated repeatedly by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group.
***
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of Armenia participated at the reception given in the honor of his visit to Beirut. Addressing the attendees Serzh Sargsyan said,
“Today, following the example of the Lebanese Armenians, I would like to talk of a phenomenon which you know better than I do. I am talking about the condition in which the Armenians, who had survived the Genocide, arrived to Lebanon and what their descendents became one or two generations later. Deprived of their homes, land, property, starving and almost dead, the scraps of our nation, which included many orphans, in a short period of time created a flourishing Armenian community with its structures and substructures, churches, schools, periodicals, cultural, sports, and benevolent institutions and raised a new Armenian-speaking and patriotic generation.
This extraordinary will power and ability to survive later was named the “Armenian phenomenon”. The story repeated itself in other places all over the world, where Armenians found refuge, and presence of the representatives of other Armenian communities testifies to that.
Let’s compare the Armenians in Lebanon in 1915 and the same community only fifty years later – in 1965. I want you to draw the same parallel between Armenia of 1991, when we declared our independence, and to imagine what Armenia will be in fifty years – in 2041. Add three exceptional advantages for development that Armenia possesses – millions of Armenians, our own land and independent statehood. I am not talking about dreams and aspirations but about real life, which our fathers and grandfathers lived here, right before your eyes,
on the hospitable soil of Lebanon and other countries of the region. The new Armenia has been following the same path of standing up, creating businesses, building nice homes, establishing beautiful towns and villages, giving the children a decent education. I have no doubt that we will succeed; I want you not to have any doubts either because throughout history different parts of our nation and the nation as a whole have done it again and again.
Today, Armenia and the Armenian nation face many problems – economic, political, etc. But compared to what we had, it becomes obvious that for many hundreds of years there have never been more favorable conditions for development.
When we declared independence, literally one third of Armenia was leveled to the ground after the earthquake. We sheltered hundreds of thousands of refugees from Azerbaijan. We knew that we were on the brink of a brutal and exhausting war, but we had confidence in ourselves, we had confidence in you, we had confidence in the “Armenian phenomenon”. Past years have shown that we have been able to conquer those perils and we’ve done it together.
Today I am here because I need to listen to your opinion and be aware of your concerns. It will really help me in my job. But I am also here to urge you to trust and believe in Armenia. “To trust and believe” doesn’t mean sit idle and wait for instructions. In this case it is unacceptable. “To trust and believe” means to actively respond to Yerevan’s initiatives and at the same time demand from Yerevan to do what the motherland of the entire Armenian nation is obligated to do for its sons and daughters who were deprived of their motherland.
We have numerous friends all over the world, but there are also hostile forces who dream of erecting walls of misunderstanding and distrust between the different parts of the Armenian nation, to drive a wedge not only within communities but also between Armenia and Spyurk, Armenia and Artsakh. And those forces do not just dream - they act vigorously. They are aware of our most potent weapon. It is our unity that can move mountains. It’s up to us to realize it and renew our pledge – common roots, common goals, and common future.
Armenia is moving forward. It is our duty to do everything to facilitate that advancement, to give new momentum to that progression because in Paryur Sevak’s words “We may not be late for the history train or plain.”
We need modern solutions, acceptable for the contemporary world but also solutions acceptable for the Armenian reality. I am confident that our collective thought will find these solutions as it’s been in the past when in much more complicated situations we were able to find right and precise solutions. Today we fight on many fronts, but we – Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk are one solid and united front. With a front like this we are invincible and immortal.
Long live Armenia, long live the Armenian nation!”
Before the meeting, the President of Armenia was visited by the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Aram I. Serzh Sargsyan and Aram I discussed issues related to the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and initialed protocols.
The participants of the meeting in Beirut praised the President’s initiative to visit Armenian communities abroad, to listen to their views on the process of normalization and initialed protocols and stated that the Presidential tour has established a new institute of discussions –consultations with the participation of different segments of our world-spread nation on the issues of momentous national significance.
At the beginning of the meeting, the President of Armenia made opening remarks and spoke about main concerns and viewpoints regarding the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and initialed protocols. The participants of the meeting engaged in a lively and open discussion after which the President of Armenia answered their questions.
Serzh Sargsyan said that the meetings, which took place in the framework of the tour, were most productive and noted that besides pros and cons he has also heard many thoughtful proposals related to Armenia-Turkey relations. “The abnormal situation existing currently between Armenia and Turkey is not to anyone’s benefit - ours or theirs. Establishment of relations and border opening will provide an opportunity to create a platform, a more or less tolerable situation to move the dialogue and negotiations forward,” the President of Armenia said.
Speaking about worries related to the normalization of the relations, the President of Armenia stressed, “I have worries too. On many occasions, I am trying to juxtapose my aspirations with the aspirations of those who, I am confident, judging from the bitter experience of the past, believe that there can be no relations and no dialogue with Turkey. This is understandable. Are there concerns? Of course, there are. But can these concerns become an obstacle for establishing relations?” Serzh Sargsyan underlined that concerns were also expressed on the two most important developments that took place in the last twenty years, when we declared independence and during the fight for Artsakh’s freedom and right for self-determination. “And despite the existing concerns, confidence and trust in our own strength brought the desired result,” underscored the President of Armenia.
The President of Armenia elaborated on all main concerns regarding the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and provided additional clarifications. “We have stressed on many occasions that the recognition of Genocide is not only a matter of justice but also an important aspect of security for Armenia and the Armenian people. It is essential,” President Sargsyan noted.
The President of Armenia also observed that as a result of the Armenian-Turkish normalization process, last year references to the Armenian Genocide and coverage of the topic in the leading world media have increased substantially.
Responding to the expressed concern that as a result of the ongoing process Turkey may assume a role in the resolution of the NK conflict, President Sargsyan noted, “the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will find its solution only when we are convinced that we have what we, our people have been fighting for since 1988.” President Sargsyan stressed once again that the normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations and the issues of Artsakh were not linked in any way, which has also been stated repeatedly by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group.
***
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of Armenia participated at the reception given in the honor of his visit to Beirut. Addressing the attendees Serzh Sargsyan said,
“Today, following the example of the Lebanese Armenians, I would like to talk of a phenomenon which you know better than I do. I am talking about the condition in which the Armenians, who had survived the Genocide, arrived to Lebanon and what their descendents became one or two generations later. Deprived of their homes, land, property, starving and almost dead, the scraps of our nation, which included many orphans, in a short period of time created a flourishing Armenian community with its structures and substructures, churches, schools, periodicals, cultural, sports, and benevolent institutions and raised a new Armenian-speaking and patriotic generation.
This extraordinary will power and ability to survive later was named the “Armenian phenomenon”. The story repeated itself in other places all over the world, where Armenians found refuge, and presence of the representatives of other Armenian communities testifies to that.
Let’s compare the Armenians in Lebanon in 1915 and the same community only fifty years later – in 1965. I want you to draw the same parallel between Armenia of 1991, when we declared our independence, and to imagine what Armenia will be in fifty years – in 2041. Add three exceptional advantages for development that Armenia possesses – millions of Armenians, our own land and independent statehood. I am not talking about dreams and aspirations but about real life, which our fathers and grandfathers lived here, right before your eyes,
on the hospitable soil of Lebanon and other countries of the region. The new Armenia has been following the same path of standing up, creating businesses, building nice homes, establishing beautiful towns and villages, giving the children a decent education. I have no doubt that we will succeed; I want you not to have any doubts either because throughout history different parts of our nation and the nation as a whole have done it again and again.
Today, Armenia and the Armenian nation face many problems – economic, political, etc. But compared to what we had, it becomes obvious that for many hundreds of years there have never been more favorable conditions for development.
When we declared independence, literally one third of Armenia was leveled to the ground after the earthquake. We sheltered hundreds of thousands of refugees from Azerbaijan. We knew that we were on the brink of a brutal and exhausting war, but we had confidence in ourselves, we had confidence in you, we had confidence in the “Armenian phenomenon”. Past years have shown that we have been able to conquer those perils and we’ve done it together.
Today I am here because I need to listen to your opinion and be aware of your concerns. It will really help me in my job. But I am also here to urge you to trust and believe in Armenia. “To trust and believe” doesn’t mean sit idle and wait for instructions. In this case it is unacceptable. “To trust and believe” means to actively respond to Yerevan’s initiatives and at the same time demand from Yerevan to do what the motherland of the entire Armenian nation is obligated to do for its sons and daughters who were deprived of their motherland.
We have numerous friends all over the world, but there are also hostile forces who dream of erecting walls of misunderstanding and distrust between the different parts of the Armenian nation, to drive a wedge not only within communities but also between Armenia and Spyurk, Armenia and Artsakh. And those forces do not just dream - they act vigorously. They are aware of our most potent weapon. It is our unity that can move mountains. It’s up to us to realize it and renew our pledge – common roots, common goals, and common future.
Armenia is moving forward. It is our duty to do everything to facilitate that advancement, to give new momentum to that progression because in Paryur Sevak’s words “We may not be late for the history train or plain.”
We need modern solutions, acceptable for the contemporary world but also solutions acceptable for the Armenian reality. I am confident that our collective thought will find these solutions as it’s been in the past when in much more complicated situations we were able to find right and precise solutions. Today we fight on many fronts, but we – Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk are one solid and united front. With a front like this we are invincible and immortal.
Long live Armenia, long live the Armenian nation!”