Armenia’s ambassador on cooperation, reconciliation, and memory
“What, in your opinion, are the priorities of Armenian-Ukrainian relations?”
“Ukraine has had fraternal relations with the Armenian people since the tenth or eleventh century. Armenians were living in the Crimea well before the birth of Christ. So the groundwork for close cooperation was laid long ago. A new impulse to our partnership was given by the visit of Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margarian in mid-May. I hope his Ukrainian counterpart will also visit Armenia shortly. Contacts and information always provide new opportunities for genuine cooperation. During the visit the two sides signed a number of agreements in very diverse fields, and the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation was in session. Our countries have managed to achieve a 200% increase in trade over the past three months. But I doubt that this otherwise good result has exhausted our potential. Armenia has decided to purchase tractors and excavators from Ukraine. Bohdan buses are already running on the streets of Yerevan, and we intend to buy another consignment. We can cooperate in agriculture, research, education, medicine, mechanical engineering, and chemical industry (Armenia once supplied the entire USSR with crude rubber). We also have well-developed informational and programming technologies. Armenians are experts in heart bypass surgery. Armenian rehabilitation centers meet all international standards, while the cost of treatment is ten to eleven times lower than in Europe or the US. The president of Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences Borys Paton and his Armenian counterpart Fadei Sarkisian are good friends, and this friendship provides a good impetus to cooperation in the field of research. Here is a recent example: Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences and the Welding Institute are going to help renovate the renowned Biurakan Observatory on Mount Aragats.”
“Ukraine was invited to submit a bid to build the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.”
“Sooner or later our nuclear power plant’s service life is going to expire. Since this is inevitable, we must have alternative sources of fuel to be able to shut down the nuclear plant. Building a gas pipeline from Iran is a very promising and important issue.”
“To what extent does it serve your national interests when you hand over large military-industrial complex enterprises and practically all power generating and supply units to Russia as payment for your debts?”
“It is true that we have handed over some important and large businesses, but Armenia’s economy is receiving sizable investments in return. It is better if these enterprises work, pay taxes, and create jobs rather than stand idle. Moreover, Armenian citizens will be manning them. I don’t see anything negative in this.
“The whole world rests on these foundations. For example, New York’s Rockefeller Center belongs to the Japanese.”
“The face-off between the government and the opposition in Armenia caused quite a ripple in the world. What forced the opposition to come out? Was there any foreign influence? To what extent do living standards in Armenia differ from those in Georgia, where this was one of the factors that triggered “the rose revolution?”
“You know, the resonance is too great and not on the same scale as events in Armenia. In our country, everyone is engaged in his or her own affairs, and the situation is quite stable. Naturally, there are forces that don’t like it when countries outside their influence are doing well. Still, when I was in Yerevan recently, I talked to all kinds of people, such as my neighbors, taxi drivers, etc., and they all told me there would be no revolution in our country.
“Naturally, there is an opposition, there are public rallies. If a nation has a diversified opposition, this means there is democracy and freedom of expression. I do not think that a person who thinks he is the cleverest is really clever. It is real wealth when there is a second, third, or fourth opinion. But when there is just a squabble over a post, when no fresh ideas are being advanced for the country’s security and prosperity...I am for a constructive, rather than revolutionary, opposition. The situation in Armenia is often compared to Georgia’s. But there was an entirely different leadership and an absolutely different sociopolitical situation over there. So ‘exporting a rose revolution’ to Armenia is just nonsense.”
“Both of our peoples suffered a genocide in the last century. Armenia’s persistent efforts to have the world recognize the Armenian people’s tragedy are worthy of praise and respect. What does this recognition mean for Armenians — justice renewed, spirituality regained?”
“We are seeking to have the genocide recognized so that it never occurs again. This is of paramount moral and psychological importance. Many countries have passed this kind of resolution. France has a special law. There must be historical justice deep in one’s heart, so that in the future an individual, a people, a nation will always do the right thing. You must not only remember the past but also look into the future and march forward boldly, without losing sight of the fact that not only your nation but all other nations should know that this tragedy took place. One must be strong and courageous to acknowledge this and then march on. Only then will there be mutual harmony and a more hopeful future.”
