Khatchik Der-Ghougassian. `ACTIVE DIPLOMACY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ARMENIA’
Interview by Karine Avagyan
News from Armenia and Diaspora – Noyan Tapan
30-11-2012 16:45:29 | Armenia | Interviews
On November 19, political scientists, international relations experts,
analysts from different countries around the world, as well as experts
and historians from Armenia participated in the Pan-Armenian
Conference of Political Scientists and International Relations Experts
on `The Challenges of the 21st Century and the Security Issues of
Armenia’ at the RA National Academy of Sciences. `Hayern Aysor”s
correspondent sat down for an interview with Argentinean-Armenian
international relations expert Khatchik Der-Ghougassian.
`Hayern Aysor’: Which city of Argentina do you live and work in?
Khatchik Der-Ghougassian: I was born in Lebanon, live in Martinez city
and have a doctor’s title in international relations from the
University of Miami. I work and lecture at San Andres University and
the American University of Armenia.
`Hayern Aysor’: Do you manage to work in two distant cities at the same time?
K.D.G.: Yes, I do. My classes at the American University of Armenia
fall in line with the summer vacation period in Argentina.
`Hayern Aysor’: What are your expectations of this conference?
K.D.G.: My main expectation is to listen to my colleagues and
establish the network that needs to be established. If this conference
has a positive impact on Armenian political officials’ policy, we will
have achieved great success.
`Hayern Aysor’: International organizations are currently dealing with
the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition and condemnation and the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. Which of these issues do you
think is the most primary issue?
K.D.G.: There can’t be a primary issue. All these issues are a part of
one agenda, that is, the advancement of Armenia’s national security
and identity issues which are all interrelated. The solution of any
one of these issues can’t be delayed to give preference to the other.
`Hayern Aysor’: For years we have been discussing a peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Do you see a peaceful
resolution of this conflict in the future?
K.D.G.: I don’t see it in the near future since Azerbaijan is
currently unwilling to negotiate. At the same time, I definitely don’t
believe in a military solution. If Azerbaijan was sure of a military
solution, it would have resolved the conflict by now. But Armenia is
mainly discussing the continuation of the status-quo, and that’s why
it’s important for Armenia to have a social-economic policy that will
help Armenia show resistance in this long-term conflict. I would say
if having a reserved army is the number one way of showing resistance
to Azerbaijan’s ambitions, then that is immediately followed by the
improvement of social-economic conditions so that Azerbaijan never
hopes to bring Armenia and Artsakh `down to their needs’ due to the
poor social-economic conditions.
`Hayern Aysor’: It seems as though the international community is
aware of Armenia’s issues and is concerned about them. Is that right,
Mr. Ghougassian?
K.D.G.: It’s not that the world is only concerned about Armenia’s
issues. We also see the issue in Palestine, the economic crisis in
Europe and the war in Syria…The fact that our key issues haven’t made
the world break into frenzy is sometimes good and sometimes bad.
`Hayern Aysor’: Are Armenian political scientists and international
relations experts that powerful for us to be able to raise our issues
to the world and solve them by ourselves?
K.D.G.: There is no country, no nation and no diplomat that can be
isolated from the rest of the world. We are all interconnected,
especially for a small country like Armenia, which is in a very
unfavorable geopolitical situation. Active diplomacy is essential for
Armenia. Armenia’s active diplomacy and strategic partnership with the
Diaspora serve as a means to end the blockade and pave the way to the
outside world.