President attended the closing ceremony of Bazeh-2013 Panarmenian youth gathering

Today, in Tsakhkadzor President Serzh Sargsyan attended the official closing ceremony of Bazeh-2013 Panarmenian youth gathering which commenced on August 12.

The President of Armenia was briefed on the events which took place in the framework of Bazeh-2013. He attended the finals of a number of sporting events, conversed with the participants, inquired about their impressions, and answered the questions raised by the young people.

In their conversation with the President, the young people noted that Bazeh
Panarmenian youth gathering provides a good opportunity for the teenagers from different marzes of Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk to interact, enrich their knowledge of Armenia, as well as to develop and discuss new programs and ideas. They told the President about traditional meetings with the representatives of the state, political, social, cultural and other areas and noted that they have been trying to show the best of their knowledge and skills in all events organized in the framework of Bazeh.

In the multiple questions addressed to the President of Armenia, the young people raised important and pressing issues related to the areas of policy, economy, education, culture, and others. At the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan spoke with the audience about his viewpoints and positions on the mentioned issues. In particular, the young people were interested in the possibilities of a greater state support to the youth issues, creation in Armenia of a civil society, Association Agreement with EU, membership to the Customs Union and a number of other issues.

Responding to the question on who might be the most preferable presidential candidate at the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan said, “Armenia, and not only Armenia, is interested in the neighbors which have taken the democratic path of development. Thus, when it comes to a neighbor, especially to a partner in negotiations, Armenia in invariably interested in a democratic Azerbaijan. However if we disregard that fact for a moment, the answer to the question is the following: we’d rather see President Ilham Aliev win. We have been going through a tough and long process of negotiations, and if we outline the framework for the solution of the problem it will at least contain the public endorsement of the principles proposed by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group. They have been actively negotiated for the last four years. Certainly, I wouldn’t say that the process is very lively now, nevertheless a certain progress has been made, and if after the elections President Aliev is able to display political will and to rise above his fanatical Armenophobia, I believe that would be the most acceptable choice for us.”

President Serzh Sargsyan responded also to the questions related to the bellicose threats of Azerbaijan to restart war and statements on the acquisition of a huge amount of weaponry and noted that possession of arms doesn’t automatically translates into winning the war and cannot influence the relative balance of forces.

After the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan attended also the concert dedicated to the closing of the Bazeh-2013 Panarmenian youth gathering.