SPEECH BY PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AT THE RECEPTION HELD BY THE RA PERMANENT REPRESENTATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Office of the President
Sept 25 2011
Armenia
Embassy of Armenia to the US and Armenian-American organizations
Compatriots, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am proud. I am proud to have such compatriots; I am proud because
there are hardly many presidents in the world – probably, two or three
– that can be offered such reception in New York. I am proud of you.
I salute you and congratulated on the 20th anniversary of independence
of the Republic of Armenia – Motherland of all Armenians.
We have been celebrating this great jubilee with the same sincere
fervor in Armenia and in Spyurk. It is quite natural because we
are united not only by our genes, our past, our history, but also
because we are united by today and most importantly by tomorrow, by
our future. The future which we will create together, all of us. The
prosperous and thriving Armenia of our common dream should become a
reality through our common efforts.
I am aware that in Armenia and especially in Diaspora there are
skeptics and even disheartened people. They think that multiple
obstacles, challenges and threats on our way are insurmountable. They
are our brothers and sisters who probably have a more acute perception
of the problems and view the possibilities of their resolution as
unattainable. We will revive our hope and faith in our wonderful
country and in our own abilities. We will renew our pledge which
through the ages was abandoned by just a few and which many more have
remained faithful to. They preserved it and fight, created and taught,
cured and built, wrote manuscripts and interpreted, went to prison and
exile, brought up strong and educated children and bestowed them with
the formula of staying faithful to a centuries-long pledge. Foreign
yoke is passing, war is passing, crises are passing, governments
of our liking or disliking are passing, but our homeland is eternal
and undying. It is our homeland as long as we didn’t underestimate
ourselves and didn’t lose hope.
Dear Compatriots,
These days all the results of our twenty-year long journey have been
recapped again and again. Quite naturally, some were complaining that
the glass is half-empty yet, the others were asserting vigorously that
the glass is already half-full. It is true that on the road toward
the Armenia of our dreams we have overcome just a part of it. We will
overcome the other one too, together, confident and steadfast.
At the same time, Spyurk has brought its share to every accomplishment
Armenia has had. And today I express my profound gratitude to all
our brothers and sisters, to you all for the multifaceted assistance
which you have brought and continue to bring to Armenia from day one
of its independence. Thank you very much.
I have already noted that day by day Armenia and Spyurq are more and
more becoming each other’s extensions. We will not have the Armenia
of our dreams without engaging efforts and input of our compatriots
from Diaspora. On the other hand, we will not have an efficient,
Armenian thinking, Armenian identity preserving and developing, proud
of its identity Spyurk without a persistently developing Armenia,
which has its place and role in the modern world.
To make our relations, our complementarity full grown, we should do
everything to be mutually comprehensible and understandable. I am aware
that there were times that there could have been disappointments. It is
possible that the citizens of Armenia too sometimes were disappointed
in their expectations. Nevertheless, we should realize that we need
to rise above the disappointments of the failures and put our common
ardor in passing on to the next generation the Armenia and such
Armenia-Spyurk bonds that will give no reason for disappointment.
All areas of the Armenian politics, particularly the area of foreign
policy, must be comprehensibly presented to Spyurk. We will never shy
away from consulting with Spyurk, from its criticism, its observations,
listening to its viewpoint and considering its experience. There may
be situations when our positions on some issues may differ, however
we have to do everything to be mostly acceptable and comprehensible
for each other.
Regarding the preservation of the Armenian identity, issues of
essential national interests our goals and agenda must be synchronized,
while different means and ways of reaching them must become our asset
and guarantee of success.
Dear Compatriots,
Peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue remains a priority
for the Armenian state and its people as, I am sure, it is for the
entire Armenian nation. Here we have what we have of which you’re
well aware. Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t have any news worth
mentioning. I don’t think my position differs from yours. Artsakh has
been enjoying its independence for the last twenty years and after
the settlement it cannot have a status inferior to the one it has
now and which has been won by its sons’ blood.
Independence of Karabakh or the right of its people for
self-determination is not to be questioned. We continue negotiations
with Azerbaijan mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. I
wouldn’t say the negotiations are entirely inefficient, however
on the other side, Kazan is the best example that Azerbaijan is
not shining with constructiveness. Our goal has been and remains to
achieve international recognition of Karabakh, including recognition
by Azerbaijan. There will be no unwarranted or one-sided concessions,
and we have talked about it on many occasions. We continue to believe
that in order to register tangible results in the negotiations,
it is necessary to undertake measures and steps which will enhance
atmosphere of confidence among the parties.
As long as Azerbaijan carries on with the threat to use force, as long
as Azerbaijan nourishes the anti-Armenian sentiments, which are present
today, it will be extremely difficult to achieve real progress. And one
more thing should be made very clear: the only reason that Armenia has
not yet recognized the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is because Armenia
has been trying to ensure results through the negotiations. At the
same time, it must be understood that any adventurism on behalf of
Azerbaijan, any action beyond the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group
will result in our recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
We together have yet much to do to bring this process to a successful
conclusion. I am confident that with the strengthening of NKR-Spyurk
relations, the issue of the international recognition of Artsakh will
become a key point on our common agenda.
Dear Compatriots,
I know all too well how difficult it is, particularly for our
compatriots in Spyurk to understand and accept our initiative aimed at
the establishment of normal relations with Turkey. It is no accident
that in the framework of the mentioned initiative, for the first time
in the history of independent Armenia, the RA President conducted
a panarmenian tour. I tried to listen and to present personally our
approaches to the Armenians living in different corners of the world.
Concerns and criticism expressed by our compatriots in Spyurk were
comprehended and shared by us. However, I remain confident that
regardless of the results, the Armenia-Turkey initiative was timely
and because of that initiative from the viewpoint of international
standing we have a different Armenia, from the viewpoint of our
national agenda – a more powerful Armenia, a stronger Spyurk, and
stronger Spyurk-Armenia relations.
The Protocols are not ratified yet, Armenia-Turkey border remains
closed, Turkey’s hostile actions against Armenia continue, and yet
if before the true nature of Turkey was known only to Armenians,
regardless of where in the world they live, now, as a result of that
process, Turkey’s true nature has become clear for the world also.
We will continue our joint actions aimed at the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The 100th anniversary of the
Genocide is approaching and through our combined efforts it must
become groundbreaking in sense of its international recognition and
condemnation.
Bowing to the memory of our innocent victims, we as a nation which
survived genocide, will continue to voice our message and ring alarm
addressed to all in the name of humankind and civilization – we have
to keep our planet free of all-human catastrophes.
Dear Compatriots,
You know first-hand value of democracy and great opportunities provided
by it for a comprehensive development. Today in Armenia we have adopted
standards of European democracy and are moving in that direction. And
it is not imposed from without: it is our people’s choice. Armenians,
as any normal nation, love freedom. For centuries and even today we
have been pursuing freedom. Some would whimper that the path is thorny;
some would grumble that we move slowly but all realize that it is
our path and we will overcome it. We will overcome it armed with the
experience of our unbelievable history, enriched with our and world
nations’ cultures. We will overcome it arguing and hugging each other.
Being here, in the United States of America, I would like also
to convey words of gratitude to the people and government of the
United States for their compassionate and warm attitude toward the
newly independent Armenia, multifaceted assistance provided through
the years of independence, efforts put in the resolution of the NK
conflict, assistance in the process of normalization with Turkey
and finally for constant attention and care for our compatriots –
citizens and residents of the United States.
I once again congratulate us all on the occasion of this great
holiday. I am certain that the Armenian nation is a huge power and if
that power is used properly, we will have numerous new and glorious
victories.
Long live the independent and free Armenia – Motherland of all
Armenians!
Long live the Armenian nation!
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