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At Villa Empain (Brussels) President Sargsyan Made A Statement

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  • At Villa Empain (Brussels) President Sargsyan Made A Statement

    AT VILLA EMPAIN PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MADE A STATEMENT

    president.am
    May 31 2010
    Armenia

    Dear representatives of Pogossian family,
    Dear Guests,
    Ladies and Gentelmen,

    I am happy to be here, at one of Brussels historical and cultural
    sites - Villa Empain. First, allow me to start with the words of
    appreciation for the Pogossian Foundation, which has undertaken the
    task of restoring this marvelous monument of the first half of the
    20th century.

    Baron Louis Empain, a patron of arts intended to create here a center
    of arts and culture. But the 20th century was harsh and the start
    of WWII cancelled those plans. Today, thanks to Pogossian family,
    Villa Empain becomes what its founder wanted it to be - the center
    for East-West dialogue and arts.

    We, the Armenians, due to ruthless whims of history, are spread all
    over the world. In the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th
    century the chieftains of the Ottoman Empire failed to understand
    and appreciate the Armenians. They failed to understand those unique
    people, who learn foreign languages fast, establish relations with
    other nations and serve as mediators between East and West in trade,
    business, culture, and literature. They failed to comprehend why those
    strange Armenians self-organize, create cultural centers, and publish
    multilingual periodicals. And they had found the easiest solution to
    the problem: if there are no Armenians, there is no need to ponder
    over these questions.

    The Genocide made the Armenians spread all over the world. Armenians
    live and thrive not only in Christian but also in many Muslim
    countries. It is hard to say whether those Armenians who had fled the
    horrors of the Genocide were received more warmly in Christian or in
    Muslim countries. Support and assistance provided to our nation in
    those dire times is immeasurable.

    Today, here at Villa Empain, the Pogossian Foundation remains faithful
    to the Armenian tradition of being a mediator between East and West.

    In our difficult times, when there are certain attempts to
    supply conflicts with religious lining and speak about the clash
    of civilizations, we, the Armenians should continue with our
    long-established traditions of being a bridge between different
    cultures. As a nation scattered around the globe we know only too
    well how important tolerance is, as well as respect toward the
    other's belief, language, and culture. For this very reason we are
    able to truly and sincerely appreciate the importance of dialogue
    between cultures.

    We also know that problems of intolerance and discrimination are not
    to be solved through the statements, declarations, or manifestations of
    good will alone. In the end of the 20th century, the humanity witnessed
    yet another horrid crime - genocide in Rwanda. First, that genocide was
    carried out through words. The Armenians had passed the same road of
    sufferings. However, when the Armenian Genocide was committed there
    were neither radio, nor TV, while the ideologists of the crime in
    Rwanda injected their poison through that very means of communication.

    Promulgation of hatred is not just neutral utilization of the freedom
    of speech: it misuses that freedom to plant hatred and trigger violence
    against one, targeted group of people. Whoever the members of that
    targeted group may be - a Jew or a Tutsi, an Arab or an Armenian -
    their chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime multiply.

    Recently, Armenians have become a target of such promulgation of
    hatred. When the leader of a neighboring state says that the Armenians
    must be deported for the sole reason that they are Armenians, I cannot
    but help to remember what happened in 1915. However, I cannot also
    neglect the events in Rwanda, where similar statements were put on
    TV and radio to pave the way for violence.

    When from another neighboring state we hear hate howls and constant
    threats of war, I once again recall the ruthless lessons of history.

    In Azerbaijan, just like in the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians were
    perceived as an alien entity - disturbing and useless, which must be
    get rid off through the massacres and atrocities. And after all this,
    Baku is trying once again to establish its rule over Nagorno Karabakh
    and its freedom-loving people, the very people they were craving to
    wipe out.

    Armenophobia becomes mentality, and its dissemination - a state
    policy. Armenophobia today is one of the most basic manifestation
    of misanthropy. Humanism has withstood the battle but fight against
    misanthropy still goes on. Misanthropy has lost the battle but,
    regrettably, not the war. How many places are there in the world where
    children look up into the sky not to welcome the sun and admire the
    sky but to see if death and destruction are not rushing down.

    The noble mission of Baron Empain was terminated by the World War II.

    The factual end of the war was heralded by the Nuremberg process,
    in which humanity defeated misanthropy. Today, Baron Empain's
    vision becomes reality thanks to the Pogossian family, because we,
    the Armenians do not terrify other's children with saber-rattling,
    because our goal is the dialogue of cultures and mutual enrichment.

    And I am happy that Villa Empain - the center for East-West dialogue
    and arts opens its doors, and I cordially congratulate all of us on
    this occasion.




    From: A. Papazian
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