INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BLAMES ARMENIA BUT NOT CERTAIN POLITICAL FORCES FOR MARCH 1 EVENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.03.2008 17:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Indeed, riots and deaths have badly damaged
Armenia’s international image. And when the international community
comes inquiring about the situation, they are not interested in
asking or knowing who is responsible for what. They look at this as
an Armenian mess, an Armenian tragedy, an Armenian problem and judge
us all together. It’s not the government that’s damaged, it’s not
the opposition that’s discredited, it’s Armenia that is dishonored,"
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said.

"We must accept their criticism, listen to their disappointment,
share their frustration and try to make certain that this is not a
permanent setback, but a temporary aberration from the path to which
we’re committed. I hope I’m not wrong. We will be tested by what
happens in the coming weeks and months. What is very encouraging is
that despite all that has happened, there’s a lot of good will towards
Armenia, a lot of hope pinned on Armenia, and a sincere desire to
see us come through this in a meaningful way, not just superficially
moving forward with business as usual."

"This is also a challenge for the Diaspora. The Diaspora is obviously
shocked and disappointed by the way events have evolved. But we all
are. Now it is time for Armenia and the Diaspora together to navigate
through this polarized and paralyzing situation, find ways to build
faith, to encourage sustained, continuous engagement, to insist on
and support institutional change. In other words, to proceed with the
difficult task of nation-building. What the Diaspora cannot do, as
some have suggested, is to boycott Armenia, to reject Armenia-based
organizations, to blame Armenia for not being the country of their
dreams. I understand the disappointment, I don’t understand the
expectations or the reaction. This is when we in Armenia need the
Diaspora, this is when the Diaspora must say what the international
community is saying – we are disappointed in what has happened and
we stand ready to work with you to bring Armenia out of this crisis.

This is not the time to disown the family. This is the time for
systematic and broad cooperation," the Minister told Azdak Beirut-based
newspaper.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress