Vardan Oskanyan: We have one way to fight against oil, i.e. to rely upon ourselves

14.07.2006 16:46
Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"

RA Foreign Minister declared that only 1-2 percent of the Diaspora’s
potential is utilized today, since the question of trust still
persists.

Particularly now, when Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been
launched, Armenia faces the challenge of not falling behind Azerbajan
in regard to economic development. What will Armenia suggest in
contrast to Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan?

"We have great internal and international resources, as well as those
of the Diaspora. We are entering a new phase, President’s two tenures
in office are coming to an end, he has no opportunity to ballot for
third term; therefore, the President should change. There was the issue
of continuity of the President’s first and second terms in office,
since there were problems that had to be resolved. Part of these has
been completed, accomplishment of others is still under way, and the
issue of continuity still persists, but we face a greater problem,
i.e. to bring the country to a qualitatively new level. Serious
economic and political reforms have been implemented, and today we
are enjoying the results of this. But altogether these were reforms
of the firs generation. We should undertake reforms of the second
generation. If we manage to do it, believe that the internal economic
recourses will double. Our democratic processes are a resource as
well. Diaspora is the second resource. Today we are utilizing only
1-2 percent of it. Why? Because there exist questions of trust in
the country and abuses," Vardan Oskanyan said.

After the third Armenia-Diaspora conference to be held in September,
the program of development of 50 villages will be launched. Separate
Diaspora structures, communities otr individuals have undertaken
the development of every of the 50 villages. Qualitatively new
Armenia-Diaspora relations will bring about greater investment of the
Diaspora’s potential, the Foreign Minister considers. If the leadership
of Armenia manages to best apply its internal resources and those of
the Diaspora, the third international resource will be added.

"In this case Armenia will become a more reliable partner and
there will be a greater flow of investments. Of course, much has
been done during the past years, but if we connect the issue with
Baku-Ceyhan and the great opportunities of Azerbaijan, we have no
other resources except for the three I mentioned above," the Foreign
Minister underlined. Oskanyan believes that with the next elections
we must be able to bring the country to a qualitatively new level.

"We are not in a disadvantageous position in the relations with our
neighbors. I can say that our position is even advantageous. Today
we are the leaders in this region, and we have achieved this at the
cost of great sacrifices.

All this has been done by applying the smallest percent of our
resources. We have one way to fight against oil: we should rely
upon ourselves and make best use of our resources," Vardan Oskanyan
remarked.