07
10, 2009

The one-week Pan-Armenian tour of President Serzh Sargsyan was concluded on October 7, in Rostov-on-Don

album picture
album picture
album picture
album picture
The one-week Pan-Armenian tour of President Serzh Sargsyan was concluded on October 7, in Rostov-on-Don, where he met with over 250 representatives of the major Armenian communities, structures and organizations of the Russian Federation and other CIS countries to discuss the current stage of the process aimed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Same day, late at night the delegation headed by the President of Armenia returned to Yerevan.



***


At the meeting in Rostov-on-Don, addressing our compatriots residing abroad, the President of Armenia said, “This is the last stop of our pan-Armenian tour. We’ve arrived here with rich impressions from our meetings with the representatives of the Armenian communities in Europe, America, and Middle East. Understandably, different countries have their local specific features but everywhere we met people, including those critical towards my actions, who have nostalgic feelings for Armenia and are concerned with our problems. Everywhere we went, I urged them to double their efforts to support Armenia politically, economically and in any other way, not to abate but on the contrary to invigorate efforts aimed at the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. There is no Armenian in the world who will have second thoughts about Genocide or Artsakh issues. A unity such as this can move mountains, and regardless of how hard some Turkish leaders try to exploit the emotional attitude of our compatriots, to present sincere concern for our country as a coercion attempt, they will fail. They will not drive a wedge between Armenia and Spyurk.
I have initiated this tour because I need the support of our sisters and brothers from all over the world. And that support should not necessarily be displayed by the unanimous approval of the initialed protocols. The spirit of our people is much more important, collective memory and readiness to act.

During this week I have met many Armenians, who live in different corners of the world, are members to different parties or are not partisan, who are studying or graduated from the best universities of the world, as well as those who have secondary education or very little education. I met people of different abilities, different mentality, and different beliefs. Nevertheless, we are all united by one thing – boundless love for our Motherland, our sincere desire that our country presents herself in a dignified way, protected from all dangers, and our people living prosperous lives. And I assure you that it can be achieved only through progress.

Viewing history through the lens of hindsight, we see that nothing in the world happens during stagnation. Therefore, the progression of our country also depends on our readiness to become modern, developed, and diligent. And that progress must be for and not against something.

Especially for this particular audience, I would like to talk about one important issue. Nowadays, some individuals that are trying to circulate the idea that a possible normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is schemed for distancing Armenia from Russia. Such ideas are groundless, “pearls” of misinformation and misrepresentation. Sometimes they can be even presented as the results of analyses. Armenian-Russian strategic partnership is developing rapidly, including in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. I believe that very soon you will witness developments, which will put an end to the suspicions of the staunchest of the disbelievers.

I agree that everything new has a risk factor. Concern over Armenia’s and her people’s future were present when we were declaring independence. When we were starting the Artsakh movement, which would inevitably result in new realities, we again were having serious concerns. But in both cases we had made a decision and moved forward. We decided to believe in our own strength, convinced that we read the imperatives of the time accurately. Today too, we must be able to make a decision and move forward. To realize the dangers does not mean to shy away from the right course: on the contrary, it means to move forward cautiously but steadfastly, overcoming obstacles or getting around them wisely.

These days, in the framework of this tour as well as in Armenia a lot has been said about the pros and cons of the initialed protocols. I don’t want to go into that again, because you all have heard numerous opinions and viewpoints. However, I will be happy to answer your questions. Before that I would ask you for a favor – do not be guided by what the Turkish side wants to see in these protocols. After all, we have initiated this entire process and we must lead it. Certainly, there can be and actually have been provocations, attempts to undermine the process, multiple hidden and obvious risks. Had it not been the case, there would have been no need for all these efforts.

Dear Compatriots,

The Armenian foreign policy has entered a new, more multifaceted phase. Any new idea or reality meets resistance. It is natural. And issues, which are linked to our decades-long pain, are particularly sensitive and require emotional approach.
Today, we are here in Rostov-on-Don, or one can say in New Nakhichevan, which was built predominantly by the western Armenians. For them, for many of us, the historical motherland is behind Ararat Mountain, on the other side of the Armenian-Turkish border. And to see that border does not mean to forget or forgo the past.

In the past few days, I have been interacting with the sons and daughters of the Armenian nation from all over the world; I saw many serious eyes, many astute, eloquent and bold glances, I touched the collective Armenian spirit and collective Armenian strength. Look at each other. We are strong. These are not just words. It must be felt. As soon as we feel it, we will start acting differently. Believe me. We shouldn’t undervalue our own strength.

Time is working for those, who use it wisely, who apportion their strength skillfully. Let’s work hand in hand in the Armenia-Artshakh-Spyurk triumvirate, let’s work judiciously and time will be working for us and will become our ally.”

After the opening remarks, the President of Armenia listened to the opinions and viewpoints of the attendees regarding the current stage of the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and initialed protocols, and answered their questions.
The participants to the meeting hailed President Sargsyan’s initiative to conduct a Pan-Armenian tour and noted that it provided a great opportunity to get first hand and essential information regarding the process and Armenia’s anticipations from the improved relations.

← Back to list