Raffi Hovannisian at 9th General Assembly of ICAPP: Armenia must  pursue a more balanced, horizontal, and sovereign policy vis-a-vis  the Russian Federation 

ArmInfo. Raffi K. Hovannisian, Leader, Heritage Party, and First Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia addressed the 9th General Assembly of The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 2 September 2016.

In his speech, Raffi Hovannisian said: "This august gathering brings  together representatives of numerous fellow nations at a time of  great importance for the Armenian nation and its Heritage Party.

At the confluence of Asian and European traditions and values and as  a bridge between the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the  Middle East, the Republic of Armenia celebrates the 25th anniversary  of its reborn statehood this month.

We are proud of our accomplishments, but much more waits to be  achieveda true democracy, civil rights, the rule of law, and fair  elections are areas in which Armenia must improve its track record of  its first quarter-century of renewed independence.

Poverty, inequality, and emigration must be curtailed. Economic  policy should benefit the average citizen, and government spending  should be done responsibly. For good governance, the leadership of  the country and business interests must be distinct and without  overlap. Peace and stability always are based on basic individual  freedoms and vital collective interests. Clearly, we can and must do  better.

The Heritage Party, founded in 2002, is a national liberal party and  one of the leading forces of the opposition. With branches throughout  the country and a parliamentary faction, it advocates a  social-oriented market economy, public accountability of the ruling  regime, and full democracy and real sovereignty for the Republic. It  demands more in these spheres from the administration.

The Heritage Party expects the same from all partners and  particularly from Armenia's neighbors. It behooves all neighbors to  pursue amicable relations with one another, to open closed borders,  and to recognize the self-determination and popular sovereignty of  new nations in their midst, as has been done in the case of  Bangladesh and East Timur in Asia, South Sudan in Africa, and Kossovo  in Europe.  It is highly desirable that the sister Caucasian republic  of Azerbaijan and the international community come to acknowledge  that the Mountainous Karabagh (Artsakh) Republic, which marks its  25th anniversary today, is a duly-constituted state under the  Montevideo Convention.  Rather than  launching a failed war of  aggression against it, the Baku government, together with the Yerevan  government, should lead the way in recognizing the sovereignty of  that state.  Repeated polemics about foreign occupation is not only  unhelpful but wholly unfounded, as it disguises the truth. Upon  recognition, of course, refugees between Azerbaijan and Mountainous  Karabagh, and Azerbaijan and Armenia, must have the reciprocal right  of return to their places of origin and secure guarantees for that  return. It is incumbant on the leadership of the Caucasian republics  to display mutual respect and seek lasting peace for the sake of all  inhabitants of the region. The normalization of relations with all  neighbors is a priorty. 

In this connection, recalling the Baku assembly of ICAPP and this  applies generally, it is essential that ICAPP not be swayed by  misinformation, that it maintain its neutrality, and that it  represent every member-party of every member-state equally and  impartially.

It is desirable that the Republic of Turkey, too, help to make  conciliation possible. Despite the growing number of civil-society  and political voices in Turkey supporting the historical record,  official Ankara still has not recognized or made restitution for the  Armenian Genocide and great dispossession of the Armenian people, the  centenary of which was commemorated worldwide in 2015. Although  Armenia favors the establishment of diplomatic relations without the  positing of political preconditions, continued conditionalities and  denial by the Turkish authorities need to be replaced by an honest  facing of history, including acceptance, apology, education,  restoration of cultural heritage, and the right of secure return of  all Armenian descendants to their national hearth.

The Islamic Republic of Iran remains Armenia's important strategic  partner, and political and economic relations continue to flourish.  The fact that Armenia is a Christian country underscores the fact  that religion need not be and should not be a principal factor in  bilateral and international relations. The Islamic Republic of Iran  has set an exemplary productive course.

Relations are generally cordial with the Republic of Georgia, and  there are indications that they will strengthen further, while at the  same time it is expected that Georgia will move in contemporary  fashion to protect the identity and cultural-ethnic rights of the  significant Armenian minority in the country.

Finally, Armenia must pursue a more balanced, horizontal, and  sovereign policy vis-a-vis the Russian Federation, an official ally  which has been granted by Armenia's rulers many of the Republic's  strategic assets. The same standard applies to Armenia's relations  with the United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, and many of the  Asian and Middle Eastern states represented at this important  gatheringall of them crucial contributors to Armenian security and  prosperity.

The Republic of Armenia and the Heritage Party welcome this Ninth  General Assembly of ICAPP and wish the delegates from all countries  fruitful deliberations and constructive conclusions. We also express  our gratitude to the government of Malaysia and the city of Kuala  Lumpur for these kind arrangements and generous hospitality."