Tuesday, April 28 2015 06:26

 

 Mr. Sharmazanov, April 24 is already behind. Most of the events commemorating the Armenian Genocide Centennial have already taken place. When summing up the preliminary results, can we say that we have managed to convey our message to the world?   

 

Certainly, we can. We have given a broader sense to the Armenian Genocide Centennial events and we have drawn the international community’ attention not only to the Armenian Genocide, but also to other crimes against humanity. We have managed to create a new international platform to prevent similar crimes in the future. The world has heard and acclaimed that message. The events have even exceeded our expectations. Now Armenia has a new status on the world arena – it has become the leader in the fight against the crimes against humanity and in the fight for prevention of new genocides.

 

Do you mean that the priority goal of the Armenian Genocide Centennial events was to focus the international community’s attention on the crimes against humanity in general?  

 

Of course, I don’t. There were several goals, but I’d like to speak of the results. First, we have managed to show the international community that we are guided by universal values rather than narrow national interests, thereby raising the problem of not only the Armenian Genocide but also all the crimes against humanity. The direct evidence is that the representatives of various nations, which have also experienced that grief, delivered speeches at the Yerevan Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide. Second, we have clearly made the world understand that we are ready to assume the leader’s role in combating crimes against humanity and to do our best to prevent new genocides in the future. The most important thing is that we have demonstrated that despite the grief we suffered 100 years ago, we keep existing and we have a strong statehood; we look ahead and we are full of strength to resolve not only our nation’s problems, but also the problems of the oppressed nations.

 

Mr. Sharmazanov, the process of the Armenian Genocide international recognition has recently intensified. Do you think it is due to the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s activities, enhancement of the Armenian lobby’s efficiency or the growing significance of that issue following the Armenian Genocide Centennial events?   

 

I think all the specified reasons are relevant here. In addition, I would point out Ankara’s response to all the events, which has considerably facilitated the achievement of our goals. You know, our latest experience shows that we gain success where we manage to conduct a balanced and reasonable policy and where we join efforts for the sake of national and universal human values.  

 

What about the global geopolitical processes? Haven’t they fostered the process of the Armenian Genocide international recognition? 

 

Of course, they have. I am not so naïve to negate that factor. But I think that the universal and moral principles have played a crucial role in this process. For instance, the Armenian Genocide international recognition process has especially intensified following the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican, when Pope Francis qualified the massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman rule as “genocide”. Actually, this has become a message to the whole civilized world and the world has acclaimed that message, which is proved by the numerous resolutions on Armenian Genocide recognition by parliaments and international structures.

 

What do you think the resolutions on recognition of the Armenian Genocide may give to Armenian statehood and Armenian people in practice, besides the “moral victory”?

 

The “moral victory” is the most valuable thing one can gain in politics. “Moral victory” is the biggest victory and if you gain victory in the moral aspect, you become a winner in all other aspects, too.

 

Some experts and politicians think that we should already turn the page of the Genocide recognition and open a new page to get reparations. What’s your opinion?

 

We should be realists. To resolve big problems, we should first of all strengthen our statehood. Only strong, stable and democratic Armenia is able to raise such issues at the world level. Actually, the prospects of the process are pointed out in the Pan-Armenian Resolution on the Armenian Genocide Centennial. In addition, we should do our best to make Ankara recognize the Armenian Genocide under the international pressure or under other circumstances. The term “genocide” implies very many legal procedures with all the consequences that come with it.    

 

Mr. Sharmazanov, do you think the Armenian-Turkish relations will normalize and Ankara will recognize the Genocide after the ruling regime in Turkey changes?   

 

No, I don’t. History shows that one and the same political regime may sharply change its vector depending on the geopolitical processes. One should not underestimate the changes in the Turkish public sentiments on the Armenian Genocide either. But at the moment, I see no prerequisites for changes in the Turkish authorities’ stand on the Armenian Genocide.   

 

Mr. Vice Speaker, how do you assess Ankara’s recent reaction to the processes around the Armenian Genocide Centennial?

 

I can characterize Ankara’s reaction to the latest processes around the Armenian Genocide as unreasonable. Over the past few days Ankara’s foreign policy has been guided by the principles of the 18^th century. It is simply ridiculous to conduct a policy by means of an offensive language today. One thing is clear – Turkey has found itself in “Diogenes’ barrel”. But this does not mean that we should neglect the fact that we deal with a G-20 member, a strong country with a population of 80 million and developed economy. We should continue the balanced and reasonable policy to achieve our goals.

 

Can we say that our response to Chamberlain was a worthy response?

 

We have responded to nobody. We have simply presented our agenda to the world and the progressive humanity has acclaimed it.