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Armenia: Facing New Challenges - Raffi K. Hovannisian

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  • Armenia: Facing New Challenges - Raffi K. Hovannisian

    Online Armenian Newspaper
    Yerkir
    An ARF Publication

    Armenia: Facing New Challenges
    Raffi K. Hovannisian
    Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1991-92
    and the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
    founding director

    Dear readers,

    Between March 14 and 21, 2005, you had an opportunity to address your
    questions on the Yerkir's website to RAFFI K. HOVANNISIAN, Armenia's
    first Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Armenian Center for National
    and International Studies (ACNIS) founding director. See the full
    version of the interview in Armenian.

    Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
    editor-in-chief of "Yerkir" Weekly.

    Hosein Tabatabaei - Dear mr. Hovhannesian. What is you opinion about
    Iran - armenia relationship and cooperation ?

    Raffi K. Hovannisian - Armenia and Iran share long-standing cultural
    and civilizational traditions, which continue to this day. Iran plays
    an important role in regional cooperation and security.

    Hosein Tabatabaei - How do you think about similarities and diferences
    in cultural view of piont ? shat shenoragalootion.

    R. H. -- Real strength comes from respectful diversity.

    Stepan - Dear Mr. Hovhannisyan, Could you comment on prospects of
    Armenia as transit country, especially recent developments regarding
    gas from Iran. Thank you

    R. H. -- Armenia must strive to diversify its economic, energy, and
    security strategy at home and abroad. New transit prospects flowing
    from the Iran-Armenia line must be developed to safeguard Armenian and
    regional energy security and the respective sovereignties of all
    concerned parties.

    Vatche Iskedjian - Mr. Hovannisian, According to you, what's the best
    to tackle `corruption' in Armenia? How can we elect a parliament which
    serves the people and not the oligarchs who `buy' their seats in
    parliament by bribing voters?

    R. H. -- Bribery, corruption, abuse of power, and the broader scourge
    of conflicts of interest between public service and private gain have
    become endemic in Armenia. It gives us no consolation that other
    countries are corrupt as well. And the problem by no means resides
    solely in the parliament. It is presidential, governmental, judicial,
    oppositional, societal-in short, system-wide. Administratively,
    Armenia continues to be a very vertical place, so the example `up top'
    is crucial. If the president or a key official is corrupt, if they or
    their family member or their staff pronounce beautifully on the rule
    of law and a variety of anti-corruption programs but in reality abuse
    their office for personal benefit, then the average citizen loses
    confidence in his or her leaders and tries to beat the system as
    well. A vicious circle indeed. What is needed are personal example;
    political will; amendment of legislation to enable the formation of an
    independent investigative and prosecutorial body that starts with the
    presidency and moves down through every nook and cranny of the
    administration and society; application of mechanisms for citizen
    empowerment and public oversight; and finally, broad popular support
    to stand together against the inevitable reactions of violence from
    affected quarters both in and out of government.

    Gevork Ter Astvadsadrian - Hello Mr. Hovannisian, I'd like to know
    what Armenia's alternatives are in light of recent PACE pronouncements
    , and what are possible consequences if Armenia is declared to be an
    aggressor? What is the impediment to the recognition of the
    independence of Atsakh, what are possible disadvantages if any, and
    advantages. Thank you for your good work, and your efforts to get
    recognition for Artsakh as Foreign Minister, and your commitment to
    our homeland

    R. H. -- Thank you for your kind words. I have always favored
    Armenia's recognition of Artsakh's right to liberty,
    self-determination, and decolonization?under international law,
    domestic Soviet legislation, and historical-political
    benchmarks. These legitimate advantages notwithstanding, we have not
    done our utmost to design and pursue a comprehensive blueprint for
    realization of its quest for freedom. Often we have sent out
    conflicting signals and suffered from partisanship and parochialism
    under both administrations. We need new leadership.

    Eric - Are you going to participate in the upcoming presidential
    elections in 2008?

    R. H. -- Presidential elections are not an end unto themselves. I plan
    to the best of my abilities to continue contributing to Armenia and a
    dignified, democratic future for all of its citizens. Each of us must
    do his or her part. For now, the best answer I can offer is that no
    decision has been made nor any option ruled out. In any event, that
    high office is not my raison d'etre.

    Eric - Do not you think that with the current educational level of the
    members of Armenian Government the country cannot progress with the
    pace the rest of the world does? The Government consists mainly of
    `strangersâ=80=9D in the areas they are responsible for.

    R. H. -- On the whole I agree, though there are happy exceptions to
    the rule. We must do our utmost to keep our best and
    brightest-especially ouryouth-in the country and offer them
    meaningful, contemporary avenues for self-advancement and public
    service.

    M. Moradian - Do you think that Armenian government should approach
    the US and the West in order to make closer ties with them or the
    authorities should remain a Russian ally and base in Caucuses? Why?

    R. H. - 21st-century Armenia should chart a course founded on its own
    national interest, the absolute sovereignty of its state, the unity
    and security of its nation, the democracy of its system, and the
    liberty of its citizen. All else is in the derivative domain of
    strategic and tactical implementation according to global and regional
    developments, political consensus-building, and public confidence. A
    successful, proactive policy of outreach would engage a variety of
    partners on the basis of healthy competition, common causes, andshared
    interests. Armenia's freedom to establish multilateral, mutually
    beneficial relations, and not multilateral dependency, should
    constitute the most telling index of its integral independence.
    Against this background, a considered foreign policy for the Armenian
    nation-state, requiring as it does the assumption of the hard lessons
    that history has dealt, recognizes its sovereignty as a supreme value
    to be treasured atall cost; defines maintenance of a peaceful
    geopolitical environment as its vital national interest; and accepts
    steady pursuit of dignified bilateral ties with all, near and far, as
    the most effective modality for achieving national security. To these
    ends, it behooves Armenia to cultivate a straightforward, sovereign
    partnership with Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States; to
    reconcile words and deeds in its attempt to integrate into European
    institutions; to explore new connections in the Middle Eastern and
    Asian dimensions; and to continue to bridge common domains with
    neighborly Iran and transatlantic America. The world after September
    11 avails Armenia of the ways and means to check and balance these
    policy directions.

    M. Moradian - If the border between Armenia and Turkey re-opens, what
    would be the challenges that Armenian businessmen, farmers and people
    will face?

    R. H. - The frontier in question was closed unilaterally by the
    Republic of Turkey in flagrant violation of the 1921 Treaties of
    Moscow and Kars on which it so often relies-to the point that the
    validity of those documents is now in deeper question than ever
    before. This is Turkey's issue, though both nations stand to gain from
    an open border and full normalization of relations basedon a brave
    facing of history that includes acknowledgment, atonement, and
    ultimate accommodation. Obviously, Armenian farmers, entrepreneurs,
    and the people at large would gain in terms of access to markets and
    consumer prices, but would benefit even more if Armenia found itself
    in advance in a more developed state of economic
    affairs. Self-confidence abroad requires first putting our own house
    in order.

    Zohrab keropian - I want to express my deep gratitude towards his
    Excellency for the excellent job that he did while in office, during
    that difficult times and not forgetting the raising of the Armenian
    genocide issue in Constantinople Turkey. I want to ask his Excellency
    on his political standings remembering the fact that during
    presidential elections he supported the opposition candidate for no
    clear reason thus can you give us a clear glimpse on your political
    grounds?

    R. H. - Thank you for your kind words. The political precepts that
    guide me are inalienable sovereignty for our republic, security in
    unity for our nation, democracy for our society, and liberty for each
    and every citizen. When by application of double standards and
    fear-based presidential decreesI was denied my own civil right to seek
    election, I decided not to sit in a corner, instead endorsing the
    distinguished candidate from the opposition. I exercised this option
    because I felt that, all things considered, he was the better
    candidate. What do you think, will our generation ever witness a fair,
    dignified election by which authority is transferred peacefully from
    incumbent to challenger? Regardless of personalities, such a
    transition is imperative for Armenia's future development. It is only
    with a legitimate, democratic, and rule-of-right homeland that we can
    expect fulfillment of foreign-policy objectives in the region and
    beyond. Stealing the vote-and thus conscience-from one's own
    citizens, brutally cracking down on them, and employing violence at
    every turn are domestic realities directly connected with our national
    capacity to seek and attain justice for other watershed issues in the
    international arena. The unjust state of our state -which has lost 1.5
    million of its citizens to emigration during the years of its own
    independence-relates immediately to the efficacy of our demands for
    justice in the name of the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide. The
    world, in essence, has become one long chain and these are its
    links-apparently distant, but intertwined nonetheless.

    Gaytzag Palandjian - Would you consider a highly necessary post, as
    Minister for Diaspora-Affairs? If and when created?

    R. H. - The position, if one of substance and not of imitation, is
    worth considering at the highest levels. I believe there would be
    several candidacies better than mine. Kind regards.

    Gaytzag Palandjian - Would you not consider as imperative
    invigoration/Re-organization of the Diaspora, to become a
    Super-structure with Head, i.e. a Supreme Council with five
    departments:-1. The Legal-Political in Strasbourg(next to RA
    rep.)2. The Economic in Geneva, CH with 16-field representing chambers
    of Professional Colleagues Associations. The Executive in N.Y.,next to
    RA 's U.N. Rep.4. The Social Services and Repatriation in
    Moscow. Spiritual at St. Etchmiadzin in constant contact with Great
    House of Cilicia? Thanking you in advance, Respectfully, g.p

    R. H. - It reads well on paper and in concept. The Armenian reality
    will probably prove otherwise. Still, the aspiration is commendable
    and might contribute to an informed public discourse on both
    individual and structural contributions to development of a
    contemporary Diaspora working professionally for its own longevity and
    for the Homeland's perpetuity. Strategy should be Armenia-driven.

    Gevork (CAN) - Mr. Hovannisian what is, from your point of view, the
    best recipe or mechanism by which Armenians worldwide can optimize the
    level of involvement of the Diaspora in the homeland. Is it dual
    citizenship? Or maybe just time is needed for Armenians to fully
    comprehend the concept of state as well as the mentalities of each
    other (spyurk and hayastan)? Or maybe there is something else that we
    still have not understood? Everybody agrees that Diaspora has done a
    lot to help Armenia, but I think most also agree that incomparably
    more may be done if the proper conditions and settings are created on
    both sides.

    R. H. - You are right. Time, mutual respect, hard work, and an
    uncommon ability to look beyond the limitations of one's own vantage
    point are part and parcel of the `optimization formula.' Dual
    citizenshipâ=80'which requires that thoughtful programs be tailored
    for the discharge of civic obligations by dual-national applicants and
    that minimum residency thresholds be set for exercise of electoral
    rights-is one important measure for ascertaining greater involvement
    and inclusivity. But standing alone it is not a panacea. A grand
    design, which entails a unifying cause and mutual accountability, is
    in order.

    Gevork (CAN) - Mr Hovannisian, as the director of ACNIS, how would you
    assess the morale of the citizens of Armenia today (is it more or less
    similar to that of citizens in other Caucasian states). If you have
    information about the same issue in spyurk I would be glad to read it
    as well.

    R. H. - As you know, we are a nation that cherishes individual thought
    and enterprise. One can find a multiplicity of views and dispositions
    across the Homeland-Diaspora divide. Despite our trials, errors and
    tribulations, there still are points of light at both ends of the
    bridge. Generally speaking, however, an independent analysis would
    reveal relatively low morale and overall malaise both at home and in
    our communities.

    M. D. Ajemian - Mr. Hovannisian, Has ACNIS developed any reparation
    scenarios in the event that Turkey (within the context of their 10
    year or so E.U. accession talks) accepts the validity of the Armenian
    Genocide? And would it not be a good idea to start a national
    discussion on the various possible scenarios including defining and
    delimiting Western Armenia? Much of the land of Western Armenia has
    been abandoned due to the Armenian Genocide and Turkishpolicy over the
    last 80 years.(It should be noted that 80% of eastern Anatolia is
    owned by the Turkish government) Should we not start promoting the
    fact that eastern Anatoila today is not as populated as the Turkish
    statistics claim,making it easier for Turkey to give up these lands
    which are not essential to the existence of the Turkish State?

    R. H. - A national discussion is always a good idea, though we have
    trouble from time to time in graduating beyond our partisanship and
    parochialism to achieve that level. A comprehensive framework for
    examining the Genocide, its legacy, and its consequences for Armenia
    and the Armenian people-both historic and contemporary-is part of this
    challenge. At the same time, we must take a critical, honest look at
    the state of affairs in the small parcel of the Armenian patrimony
    which survives today as the Republic of Armenia. We of all people do
    not need double standards. We reject them when they are applied by
    Turkey, Azerbaijan, and sometimes the international community. We
    certainly should not accept them in our own nation-state and among our
    leaders, whether elected or not. These cannot, and shall not, be the
    criteria by which we make judgments on the matters of yesterday and of
    tomorrow.

    M. D. Ajemian - Mr. Hovannisian, When I was a college student in the
    late 70's and early 80's I attended many discussions on the future of
    Soviet Armenia and the possibility of an independent Armenian State. I
    was one of the few people who believed that the Soviet Union because
    of its corrupt and economically mismanaged system would not survive
    for long and that an independent Armenian State would emerge. Now most
    take it for granted that Armenia is independent including those who
    laughed at the idea. I for one believe that the Turkish Republic could
    emerge into a different entity if all the players in Turkey's future
    push hard enough to break the hold of the Kemalist elite. There are
    ways to do it. It is a limited number of people who prevent Turkey
    from being a European state. Should we not start making an effort to
    start Turkish-Armenian conciliation with various Turkish groups in
    Europe initially and as the E.U. process unfolds with groups in
    Turkey?

    R. H. - There is today an emerging Turkish voice, still in the vast
    minority, seeking a brave reexamination of Turkish history, the
    foundations of the modern Turkish state, and Turkish-Armenian
    relations in particular. These beginnings of a crack in the official
    wall of silence are gradually approaching the seminal crossroads of
    the Armenian Genocide. Unbeknownst to them, this follows in the
    exceptional tradition of thousands of Turkish families who in 1915, at
    the risk of losing their own lives, endeavored to hide and save
    individual Armenians from certain death. My grandmother owed her life
    to one such righteous family of heroes, who to this day remain unsung
    because of the official Turkish dialectic. Whether in Turkey or
    abroad, this new generation of compelling, liberated Turkish thought
    should be engaged on all levels. And, yes, potential Turkish and
    Armenian accession to the European Union should become the major
    causal thoroughfare for a truly European coming to terms with history,
    a settlement of accounts, an inevitable normalization, and the joining
    of forces for regional security and cooperation-both as neighbors and
    as states member in the EU. No one should be the odd man out.
    Feasibility or fantasy? The answer lies within.

    See the full version of the interview in Armenian.
    From: Baghdasarian
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