RA FM AWARDED VENETO SPECIAL PRIZE
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 26 2005
VERONA, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September
24, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was awarded the Grosso d’Oro
Veneziano prize in the Italian city of Verona. V.Oskanian was bestowed
the prize of the Masi Foundation for his personal contribution to the
process of Armenia’s integration to European structures and extension
of Armenian-Italian contacts.
On this occasion Minister Oskanian made a speech at the 25th
awards ceremony held in the St George Cathedral (of VIII century) in
Verona, where he, in particular, touched upon Armenia’s resolution to
develop in accordance with the European standards, country’s internal
development, Armenian-Italian relations, as well as spoke about the
Armenian-Italian Days to be organized in Armenia in early October.
The Masi Foundation was created and is now headed by the descendants
of Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Famous representatives in the sphere
of literature, art, science, economy are awarded prizes of the Masi
Foundation every year. The prizes are mainly given to the Italians.
Up to this day only former Slovenian President Milan Kucan among
foreign high-ranking state and political figures has received the
Grosso d’Oro Veneziano prize.
Below is V.Oskanian’s speech submitted to Noyan Tapan by RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department:
Honorable Senator Volcic, Honorable members of the Board of Directors
of the Fondazione Masi, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am privileged to
receive this prestigious award, il Grosso d’Oro Veneziano. This
is a special day for me. And this is, of course, a special place,
a special foundation and a special family with a glorious history of
650 years stretching all the way back to one of the greatest poets of
all times, Dante Alighieri. Dante’s descendants valued their heritage
and helped pass on his legacy. This legacy clearly manifests itself
in modern Italy and the Region of Veneto. Italy and Veneto also share
a legacy with Armenians. There is much symbolism in the fact that
Armenia’s coming back to Europe is being noted and celebrated here,
in Italy. Armenian-Italian connections are based on rich and ancient
traditions. It was in Italy in 1512, that Hakob Meghapart published
the first book ever in Armenian. The Urbatagirk (or Book of Days)
was followed in 1513 with the first published Armenian calendar. The
renowned Briton, Lord Byron, referred to the Venetian island of San
Lazaro as a fortress of Armenian independence, since the Armenian
monks of the Order of Mekhitar had found refuge there in the early
1700s. For the last three centuries, that haven has turned into a
scientific and cultural locus. Today, if you ask the Mekhitarist
fathers whether they are Venetian, they will say yes. If you ask
them whether they are Armenian, they will say yes. One can say that
they were pioneers in establishing a common European identity, about
which we speak proudly, yet with some apprehension. If it used to be
religion that bound Europe together a millennium ago, it certainly
isn’t any longer. Nor is it the economic advancement that was specific
to Europe two centuries ago. It isn’t ideology either, which was both
adhesive and encumbrance for decades in the last century.
Europe is more than its common history, more than geography, more
than a club for members. All those who’ve said Europe is an idea are
right. It is the idea of a Europe that is the common, if unattainable
ideal. Even those living outside this space have imagined and desired
a Europe which can be addressed collectively, a partner which can be
enlisted conveniently, a Europe to which they yearn to belong.
Armenia is Europe. This is a fact, it’s not a response to a question.
The collapse of the USSR brought us to a point of economic and
political crisis. I remember our discussions in Armenia, before our
entry into the Council of Europe. There were many questions about
the choice of path to take.
Dante once said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those
who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality. I’m happy to
say I won’t be going there because I was among the loudest advocates
of the European path. The choice was clear. Armenians believe in the
values of the European enlightenment, of European civilization. The
moral, ethical and existential choices that bring individuals and
societies to select democracy over other forms of government, rule
of law over rule of man, human rights over selective rights, those
choices have been made. A people who have lived under subjugation,
have seen ethnic cleansing and genocide even before the terms existed,
have lived as a minority without rights, now belong to a world where
warring neighbors have found that they can accept new borders based
on realities on the ground and move on. Europe’s nation-states have
found that they can transcend borders, without diminishing or ignoring
cultural spaces, without expecting historical identities to vanish. The
European Neighborhood Policy brings Armenia back home since Armenia’s
foreign policy priority is the gradual integration of Armenia into
European institutions. In his presentation, my good friend, Senator
Demetro Volcic described in ponderous detail my country’s foreign
policy priorities. I must admit that he is well aware of them not
as a common bystander, but as a caring and thoughtful professional,
who has proven to be instrumental in helping to integrate Armenia
into the modern European architecture. The double digit GDP growth,
which Armenia achieved each of the last five years, the successful
admission into the WTO, the spirit of the free enterprise, the
changing political system and society are promising signs that we are
on the right track. However, it is too early to say that the European
standard is round the corner. It is not as close yet as Europe itself,
as Venice, as Verona, as the shared cultural and religious values of
the past and present. To highlight and share those values, we will
be launching a two-month long Days of Italy in Armenia, beginning in
early October.
This project has received the blessing and patronage of President
Ciampi, President Kocharian and Governor Galan. The centerpiece of
these important events will be an exhibition of the riches from the
Isla Armena. In light of all this, then, the Fondazione Masi has,
in bestowing upon me this award, put a great stamp of approval on
Armenia, its foreign policy directions, its European orientation,
its future. I thank you.