BUILDING THE ARMENIA OF FUTURE
Gevorg Haroutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 15, 2008
Armenia
The 8th pan-Armenian "Baze" (hawk) youth gathering is being held
in Jermuk from 11 till 18 July. Yesterday President Serge Sargsyan
visited the 650 participants of "Baze" who have arrived here from
different parts of Armenia, Artsakh, Javahk and the Diaspora.
Addressing the "Baze" activists representing the red, blue and orange
fronts, the President said, " ‘Baze’ pan-Armenian youth gathering
seems to be the model of our people who are scattered all over the
world. ‘From most different parts of the world – for the sake of
the realization of the desires of Armenia and the Armenian people’:
this is how I imagine the original motto of ‘Baze’.
Such gatherings also bear a specific kind of message calling for
our national unanimity and solidarity for the sake of Armenia’s
future. For several days I have been thinking about addressing a
message to all the descendents of our people. Today I decided to
realize my intention together with you. Because I don’t imagine a
more convenient environment than this place where I can speak, with
the ardent looks of 650 people accompanying me.
And now, I ask for your support for addressing a speech to our people
here, in the lap of our homeland, in an atmosp here overfilled with
the spirit of patriotism.
The President addressed all the citizens of the Republic of Armenia,
as well as all those who consider Armenia their homeland. S. Sargsyan
addressed all those who "proudly explain to their children and
grandchildren from the cradle that they are Armenians, that they have
a motherland in the remote valley of Ararat."
The President of Armenia addressed all the Armenians living abroad,
"I want to talk to you about your homeland and yourself. I am sure that
the kind recollections of childhood and the smiling eyes of familiar
and unfamiliar old men sitting in the yard are calling you home. I
know that the craziness of the Parisian bohemia, the achievements
you had in New York, the respectful looks of your friends living in
Moscow and your own satisfaction often come into collision with your
grandfather and grandmother’s words saying ‘My dear son, come home!’
The sunny smiles of your Mom and Dad and the feeling of tiredness
after playing a game in the yard collide with each other, saying
‘My dear son, come home!’ You need roots in order to establish your
welfare, your maturity and the life you have created. You need a path
linking you with your childhood, a path that will pass through your
birthplace and your yard, reminding you about your old grandfather
and grandmother, your friends and relatives having a lot of c
oncerns. While recounting a fairytale, your grandma certainly would
say that an Armenian is like a tree. You removed it from its land
but didn’t harm the root, so it can blossom and become a tree again."
S. Sargsyan expressed belief that the land of each Armenian is his
childhood and home. "Both the positive and the negative are ours. Our
roots are buried deep here. The wind and storm, the earthquake and
injustice have pulled down our house with an axe, but we know the
place of our roots well, and we can blossom because the sun, the land
and the water of foreign countries have tempered us. We are strong. A
little love will be enough for the roots to grow into a tree."
The President of the Republic appealed to our people to protect
our house.
"The yard of our childhood needs a merry-go-round with the colors
of the rainbow. Our grandfathers and grandmothers need our ears to
untwine the tangle of their lives. Our yards need our presence at
least once a year. As to our land and water, they don’t need anything
at all. Just love your house and yard, and the homeland will be loved."
The following part of the President’s speech was addressed especially
to all the citizens of Armenia: "Dear Armenians, the main task we
are carrying out at present is actually one thing: we are building
the Armenia of future. The kind of Armenia we are required=2 0to
inherit to our generations should be a developed, democratic and
peaceful country. I am more than sure that the goals of future should
be embodied in each of us; every single person, be he/she a farmer,
teacher, civil servant, businessman or intellectual, should be the
bearer of those goals.
This is probably the path that will incessantly push each citizen
of the Republic of Armenia to the frank self-confession saying, "I
love my country." This is the path that will lead all of us to the
reality, when each of us will be constantly asking himself/herself:
"Are my deeds enough to change my country for the better and make it
smile like a child?"
The President of the country confirmed the fact that Armenia is the
motherland of not only the citizens of Armenia but also the Armenians
scattered all over the world. He especially addressed the Armenian
businessmen and wealthy people: "The truth, which is more than obvious,
dictates us one thing: to make our motherland flourish through our
joint efforts. Be more active and full of initiative in your efforts
towards making your homeland a prosperous country. This is my request
to everybody.
Look at the glances of the young people overfilled with patriotism
and fervor. Let’s bring them up as us good Armenians and faithful
sons of their homeland not only in word by also in deed."
The President of the Republic did not=2 0deem it necessary to
thoroughly discuss the mechanisms required for uniting the whole
potentials of the Armenian nation, clarify the mechanisms of the
cooperation between the state and the individual, Armenia and the
Diaspora, the formats of the Pan-Armenian Bank and other similar
institutions.
"There will still be occasions for doing that. Today it is necessary
to speak an Armenian and his/her homeland called Armenia. There is
no third party here. There you are, standing face to face with your
past, your future and the future of your children. I call on all of
you to choose your own element in your motherland, your library,
your school and any other idea and build and realize, increase,
create, multiply and shape the fairy-tale of your childhood."
Serge Sargsyan expressed hope that his appeal would by all means find
a response. "I am sure that we all realize that we are mortals while
Armenia will exist forever. So, long live Armenia, and glory to the
Armenian people."