President Sarkissian attended the opening of the Vardanians classroom: Gohar and Gevork Vardanians proved that Armenians can be not only brilliant scientists and entrepreneurs but also the best intelligence agents

Today, at the V. Brusov State Linguistic University, President Armen Sarkissian was present at the opening of the classroom dedicated to the legendary intelligence agents Gohar and Gevork Vardanians.

“I was happy to know Gohar and Gevorg Vardanians personally, we were friends,” President Sarkissian said in his remarks. “For many years, Gohar and my mother were friends in Tehran. And when in 1996 I was the Prime Minister, I consulted a lot with Gevork Vardanian on how to improve and upgrade to its most the foreign intelligence service of the Republic of Armenia. Armenians can be not only brilliant scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs, but also the best intelligence agents in the world. Gohar and Gevork Vardanians proved it. Obviously, agent’s work is very difficult, and a person, who has dedicated himself or herself to it, needs to have a score of qualities: to be an excellent analyst, to possess strong and excellent willpower, to be able to master emotions, to be able to read other people’s mind, to be able to assess other persons, etc. But most importantly, he or she must be a patriot because one cannot be an agent for money or other things. Absolute dedication is critical. Aznavour once said that he was one hundred percent Armenian, and one hundred percent French. Gohar and Gevork Vardanians I knew were one hundred percent Armenian, and one hundred percent Russian. The Armenian-Russian relations have always been built not only on human, historical relations, or history but also on the lives of individuals, such as Hovhaness Ayvazovsky, Hovhaness Baghramian, Victor Hambardzumian, Gevork and Gohar Vardanian.

The Vardanians were brilliant people. I will give you one example: Years ago, when I was in Great Britain, the agreement was reached that the BBC would shoot a documentary about the Vardanians, about Gevork Vardanian and particularly about the story related to the British Prime Minister Churchill. I was the sponsor who funded the program. Churchill’s granddaughter, Selia Sanders flew to Moscow to meet with Gevork Vardanian. I put forward only one condition: I would assist you but when you meet, you should have Armenian brandy and confirm before the British and Russian TV that Churchill was a fan of the Armenian brandy. Selia Sanders went there, met with Gevork Vardanian and came back. I asked her how did it go? She said, she fell in love.

Churchill’s granddaughter in an hour and half fell in love with Gevork Vardanian. This speaks of Gevork Vardanian’s personality, a powerful man, a brilliant intellectual.”

From the classroom, President Sarkissian had a phone conversation with Gohar Vardanian in Moscow.

“Dear Gohar, I am standing in the nice rook at the Brusov University which is named after you and Gevork. My congratulations,” President Sarkissian said. “This nice room will carry your, legendary, very warm people’s name. Students will take classes here and will remember you. There is a screen which demonstrates numerous photographs. I am familiar with many of them since I have seen them at your home. Memories wake up each time I look at them. Stay in good health. I will see you when I am in Moscow next time, we will talk just as before.”