|
Armen Petrosyan: Representing Armenia Abroad
"A young ambassador for a young country," is how Armen Petrosyan, Armenia's Ambassador to Cyprus, Greece and six Balkan countries refers to himself.
On an official visit to Cyprus last week for the 75th anniversary of the Melkonian Educational Institute, the Ambassador also held a number of meetings with Ministry officials in the run-up to the first joint Inter-ministerial Committee of Cyprus and Armenia, which will take place in May.
"We intend to try to boost and inform businessmen on both sides," he says, building on links already established during a visit by a group of Cypriot businessmen to Armenia in 1997/98, who together represented about 20-25 different business interests. In the years since those meetings, he says, there have been considerable developments in Armenia as well as in Cyprus.
"After many years of living in a conflict zone, foreign investment and trade are important for us," he says, adding that it is now imperative to review relations and future developments. While some Cypriot businesses have demonstrated an interest in Armenia, Petrosyan says levels of involvement are nowhere near what they could be.
Petrosyan is also in discussions with the Education Ministry about plans to co-operate on projects and events of an educational, scientific and cultural nature - "typical broad youth issues," as he describes it - that followed the signing of a joint agreement between the two countries.
In the first week of May, Health Minister Frixos Savvides will be visiting Armenia to sign another bilateral agreement.
But the Ambassador says more needs to be done to bring the two countries closer together such as the Cypriot Cultural week organized in Armenia last July, with the help of the CTO.
"This year is an amazing opportunity for Armenians to show their culture and history. In 301 AD, Christianity was proclaimed as a State religion in Armenia, so this year marks the celebration of 1700 years of Christianity." UNESCO has declared June 17 the Day of Christianity in Armenia, with many cultural events planned for the day.
This year, Armenia also marks its tenth year of independence. But the anniversary is a time for reflection as much as rejoicing, as the country finds itself in the unusual position of having strong communities outside its borders and a weak nation within. "Armenia is a unique nation in that it is fortunate to have such worldwide representation. But it is sad that it is as a result of the Genocide," he says.
The Genocide of 1915 saw many Armenians fleeing their homeland, settling abroad to form the Diaspora. Today, over 7 million Armenians live in more than 60 countries.
But despite being spread across the globe, the preservation of national identity is of paramount importance to the Armenians – often pursued through education. In almost every Armenian community, there is an Armenian school. "We consider educational institutes a primary place to preserve national identity," he explains. "Even in Belgrade where there is a small, young Armenian community, they have already established a Sunday school." However, he emphasizes that the intention of such schools is not to be nationalistic, but to preserve Armenians' national identity.
The unity of the Armenian community abroad has produced a strong national lobby that was a key driving force in ensuring the Genocide was given greater exposure and recognized as a historical injustice by a number of foreign governments.
"It is a moral victory for us as it is an event that has haunted the Armenians for over 80 years," he explains. "But we also hope it will help the Turks themselves to come to terms with their past, as times have changed and we are living in new dimensions. Their intention in expressing an interest in accession to the EU also implies an acceptance of certain valued international principles."
To date, Turkey rejected diplomatic relations with Armenia – something the Ambassador is keen to change. "We live in the same region and we need to find a way to communicate and co-exist," he emphasizes. One important issue is the disputed region of Nagorny-Karabakh. More than 30,000 people died and nearly a million people were displaced after the ethnic Armenian majority of NK launched a rebellion in 1988, declaring independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. A cease-fire was signed in 1994, but peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US over NK's future status within Azerbaijan remain deadlocked. The region has been at the center of centuries of conflict going back through the Soviet Union, Iran and Turkey to the Ottoman period.
The Armenian government is arguing for a solution based on three principles: international recognition of Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination; a land connection between Karabakh and Armenia; and guaranteed security for the region's people.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents are holding their next meeting - their 16th - at Key West in Florida. After years of discussion, Petrosyan says he is hopeful that there will now be progress, adding that the rounds of talks held to date have helped the two communities better understand one another.
International involvement in resolving the issue is essential, he emphasizes, in order to bring greater stability to the area and to move towards resolving other regional issues.
"Currently, only two of the three concerned parties are at the talks.
But the Karabakhis need to be recognized. Without their consent, no
solution is a solution."
Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News Archives