"AZG" DAILY INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA AND WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS ARA ABRAHAMIAN ABOUT RA PRESIDENT’S VISIT
AZG Armenian Daily
27/06/2008
Armenia-Russia
– Mr. Abrahamian, how do you assess the results of the Armenian
President Serge Sargsian’s visit to Moscow?
– As it was expected, the visit took place in rather warm and
friendly atmosphere. Important meetings were held between Serge
Sargsian and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin. Important issues of Armenian-Russian relations were
discussed, first, issues of gas prices and widening of cooperation in
that sphere, widening of Russian investments in the Armenian economy
and implementation of joint programs. Issues of scientific-technical
and technical military cooperation were discussed. The details of
the negotiations were not announced but judging from the official
announcements of the two sides, very important arrangements were
made. Anyway, during the meetings with the journalists the two
Presidents expressed satisfaction of the meeting and negotiations.
– What else would be worth to mention in connection with the Armenian
President’s visit to Russia?
– It is already traditional that the Armenian President met with
the representatives of the Armenian community the first day of the
visit. It was not an official meeting. The President considered
necessary to speak of the inner political situation of Armenia and
those steps that are taken by the Armenian authorities to strengthen
the stability and to solve the available problems with the efforts
of the Armenian community.
Along with it Serge Sargsian briefly represented the Armenian foreign
policy mainly touching upon Armenian-Turkish relations and settlement
of Karabakh conflict. He also assessed generally Armenia-Diaspora
relations. In this sense, it was pleasant to hear that the President
is forming a structure that will always cooperate with the Armenian
communities of all over the world. Serge Sargsian also touched upon the
organizational potential of the Armenian community of Russia. After the
meetings with the Russian President and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian
invited the Russian journalists, editor-in-chiefs, well-known TV
companies and influential political figures to dinner at the Armenian
Embassy in Russia. During the dinner not-official discussions were
held about urgent problems of the Armenian domestic and foreign policy.
– Mr. Abrahamian, according to several Armenian newspapers, President
Serge Sargsian was not satisfied with the activities of the Armenian
community in Russia considering not well organized and it was mainly
directed to the Union of Armenians in Russia, does it correspond
to reality?
– I don’t’ think that it’s right to speak of the Armenian President’s
displeasure at the Union of Armenians in Russia. What was said in
reality is not news for us. I have spoken of it many times. The
Union of Armenians in Russia couldn’t be able to combine the whole
potential and resources of the Armenian community of Russia. It’s a
serious issue. We understand clearly that the 9-year efforts of the
Union of Armenians in Russia would be more efficient if there was the
state assistance of Armenia to gather the Armenian community and not
to divide it into parts. It is hopeful that the President mentioned
that today the Armenian state is able and ready to help the Armenian
communities. It is very important for us that this help will be not
so much financial but moral-political directed to gathering of the
Armenian communities around those authoritative organizations that
are held in high respect in the corresponding country.
In this connection hardly any Armenian community can compete with the
Union of Armenians in Russia. Our activities are known both in Armenia
and in Russia, and our organization has always been an example for
the national organizations that tried to cooperate efficiently with
the Russian authorities. I think that we can become more serious
and practical for the authorities of Russia if the new President
of Armenia invest more efforts to gather round our authoritative
organization those who are not involved yet in public work.