‘YOU COUNTRY IS WAITING FOR YOU’: VAHAN HOVHANNISSIAN’S MEETING WITH ARMENIAN STUDENTS IN MOSCOW
Yerkir.am
March 24, 2006
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member and Vice-Speaker
of the National Assembly Vahan Hovhannissian met Armenian students in
Moscow on March 15. The meeting was organized by “Mitk” Youth Union
with support of ARF’s Hay Dat Office in Moscow.
Representatives of the Association for Intellectual Cooperation of
Armenian Youth, the Association of Armenian Students at Moscow State
University, the Youth Association of the Union of Armenians in Russia,
Moscow State University for Foreign Affairs, Moscow Medical University,
Armenian Youth Unions in Podolsk and Dolgoprudni as well as Russian
students studying Armenian language at the Armenian Cultural Center
at Moscow State Linguistic University.
Officer in charge of the Moscow Hay Dat Office Yuri Navoyan opened the
meeting noting that by supporting the organization of the meeting the
Office had aimed at encouraging engaging the potential of the Armenian
students in Moscow in the cooperation projects between Armenia and the
Armenian communities in Russia. Chairman of the “Mitk” Youth Union
Mikael Harutyunian stated that this meeting was the first in the
series of discussions to be held this year with Russian and Armenian
political leaders and intellectuals.
Vahan Hovhannissian presented an analysis of Armenia’s internal
and regional political developments and answered the participants’
questions.
Commenting on the Armenian-Russian relations Hovhannissian noted that
these relations unfortunately depend not only on Russia and Armenia
since these countries do not share a common border.
There are two countries between Armenia and Russia, one of them has
hostile relations with Armenia, the other has unsolved issues with
Russia. These factors often influence the bilateral relations between
Armenia and Russia.
Commenting on Russia’s policies in the energy sector Hovhannissian
noted that Armenia has to learn from it. People in Armenia start
understanding that they always should have an alternative.
Hovhannissian presented ARF as a socialist party and a member of the
Socialist International. He noted that it is difficult to develop
inter-party relations with the political parties in Russia since
there are no stable socialist parties in this country.
Hovhannissian spoke about the political activities of Hay
Dat Offices and Committees. The students participating in the
meeting asked questions about the Karabagh settlement process, the
situation in Javakhq, the probability of another war launched by
Azerbaijanm the social issues of youth in Armenia, dual citizenship,
organization of the Armenian Diaspora in Russia, and a number of
other issues. Answering their questions Hovhannissian stressed that
Azerbaijan cannot solve the Karabagh problem with another war wince
Armenia has adequate defense resources.
Hovhannissian viewed the situation in Javakhq from the perspective
of ethnic minorities in Georgia. Since the issue of Georgia’s
administrative territorial division is currently being discussed the
Armenian in Javakhq are also aiming at consolidation of their rights
in the form of autonomy.
Hovhannissian informed the meeting participants that after the ban
on dual citizenship was eliminated in the new constitution a separate
law on dual citizenship must be adopted.
ARF’s faction has already developed the concept for this law, and the
concept will be discussed with the Diaspora. Hovhannissian called on
the meeting participants to actively participate in a seminar on dual
citizenship to be held in Moscow in near future.
Answering the question what can serve as a national ideology for the
Armenians Hovhannissian noted that the Hay Dat is the axis of this
ideology: uniting around Hay Dat we can realize our national goals.
A series of proposals were made by the organizations represented
at the meeting. It was suggested to develop a national program for
returning of the Armenian youth to Armenia, to create a database of
specialist needed in Armenia.
Concluding the meeting, Hovhannissian noted, “Today we have a
developing country that is waiting for you, for your opinions and
your proposals”.