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HILDA TCHOBOIAN, PETER SEMNEBY DISCUSS ARMENIAN-RELATED ISSUES
Yerkir
09.10.2008 17:03
Yerevan (Yerkir) - Peter Semneby, the EU special envoy to the South
Caucasus, and Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation, held a meeting on 24 September in the framework of the
regular consultations that take place between the Euro-Armenian NGO
and EU institutions.
The main focus of their talks was the recent geopolitical unrest in the
South Caucasus, the renewed interest in improvement of Turkey-Armenia
relations, and the challenges faced by Georgia's ethnic Armenian
population.
Both Tchoboian and Semneby reiterated their common interest in
eventually seeing the normalization of regional cooperation in South
Caucasus, particularly in the wake of the Georgian crisis. The
President of the European Armenian Federation, however, informed
Mr. Semneby of her organization's scepticism about Turkey's proposed
"Caucasian Platform for Stability and Cooperation," noting that, until
now, Turkey has primarily been a destabilizing factor in the region,
as evidenced by its blockade of Armenia and its pro-Azerbaijani bias
in the Karabagh conflict.
"In the context of the emergence of a new balance of power in Caucasus,
Turkey is seeking assert for itself a role as an intermediary between
Europe, Russia and the Caucasian States" stated Hilda Tchoboian.
"But it's hopes are clearly not suppo rted by the facts on the ground
- which include recent statements by its Minister of Foreign Affairs
stressing Turkey's intention to make Armenia pay dearly for the
opening of the border, in particular, by stopping the international
process of Armenian Genocide recognition," she added.
With regard to Georgia, the Federation's President shared with Semneby
the urgent concerns voiced by the country's Armenian minority.
"After their defeat in South Ossetia, we need to be mindful that
nationalistic elements of Georgian society and the Georgian power
structures could target the ethnic Armenians community as scapegoats"
explained Hilda Tchoboian. "Georgia has compelling interest in
moving toward a policy of respect for the rights of minorities -
especially those of the ethnic Armenians of Javakhk - as per its
commitments to the Council of Europe. Trying to build a centralized,
unitary state in the 21st century is simply unrealistic for a diverse,
multiethnic country such as Georgia" concluded the president of the
European Armenian Federation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Yerkir
09.10.2008 17:03
Yerevan (Yerkir) - Peter Semneby, the EU special envoy to the South
Caucasus, and Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation, held a meeting on 24 September in the framework of the
regular consultations that take place between the Euro-Armenian NGO
and EU institutions.
The main focus of their talks was the recent geopolitical unrest in the
South Caucasus, the renewed interest in improvement of Turkey-Armenia
relations, and the challenges faced by Georgia's ethnic Armenian
population.
Both Tchoboian and Semneby reiterated their common interest in
eventually seeing the normalization of regional cooperation in South
Caucasus, particularly in the wake of the Georgian crisis. The
President of the European Armenian Federation, however, informed
Mr. Semneby of her organization's scepticism about Turkey's proposed
"Caucasian Platform for Stability and Cooperation," noting that, until
now, Turkey has primarily been a destabilizing factor in the region,
as evidenced by its blockade of Armenia and its pro-Azerbaijani bias
in the Karabagh conflict.
"In the context of the emergence of a new balance of power in Caucasus,
Turkey is seeking assert for itself a role as an intermediary between
Europe, Russia and the Caucasian States" stated Hilda Tchoboian.
"But it's hopes are clearly not suppo rted by the facts on the ground
- which include recent statements by its Minister of Foreign Affairs
stressing Turkey's intention to make Armenia pay dearly for the
opening of the border, in particular, by stopping the international
process of Armenian Genocide recognition," she added.
With regard to Georgia, the Federation's President shared with Semneby
the urgent concerns voiced by the country's Armenian minority.
"After their defeat in South Ossetia, we need to be mindful that
nationalistic elements of Georgian society and the Georgian power
structures could target the ethnic Armenians community as scapegoats"
explained Hilda Tchoboian. "Georgia has compelling interest in
moving toward a policy of respect for the rights of minorities -
especially those of the ethnic Armenians of Javakhk - as per its
commitments to the Council of Europe. Trying to build a centralized,
unitary state in the 21st century is simply unrealistic for a diverse,
multiethnic country such as Georgia" concluded the president of the
European Armenian Federation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress