HILDA TCHOBOIAN AND PETER SEMNEBY HOLD MEETING
armradio.am
09.10.2008 12:13
Peter Semneby, the EU special envoy to the South Caucasus, and Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation,
held a meeting in the framework of the regular consultations that
take place between the Euro-Armenian NGO and EU institutions.
The main focus of their talks was the recent geopolitical unrest in the
South Caucasus, the renewed interest in improvement of Turkey-Armenia
relations, and the challenges faced by Georgia’s ethnic Armenian
population.
Both Tchoboian and Semneby reiterated their common interest in
eventually seeing the normalization of regional cooperation in South
Caucasus, particularly in the wake of the Georgian crisis. The
President of the European Armenian Federation, however, informed
Mr. Semneby of her organization’s scepticism about Turkey’s proposed
"Caucasian Platform for Stability and Cooperation," noting that, until
now, Turkey has primarily been a destabilizing factor in the region,
as evidenced by its blockade of Armenia and its pro-Azerbaijani bias
in the Karabagh conflict.
"In the context of the emergence of a new balance of power in Caucasus,
Turkey is seeking assert for itself a role as an intermediary between
Europe, Russia and the Caucasian States" stated Hilda Tchoboian.
"But it’s hopes are clearly not supported by the facts on the ground
which include recent statements by its Minister of Foreign Affairs
stressing Turkey’s intention to make Armenia pay dearly for the
opening of the border, in particular, by stopping the international
process of Armenian Genocide recognition," she added.
Many observers consider the apparent goodwill displayed recently by
Turkey toward Armenia to be driven primarily by the domestic power
struggle between Kemalists and Islamists and their competing efforts
to assert primacy in guiding their nation’s foreign affairs, not any
sincere interest in materially improving relations with Armenia.
With regard to Georgia, the Federation’s President shared with Semneby
the urgent concerns voiced by the country’s Armenian minority.
"After their defeat in South Ossetia, we need to be mindful that
nationalistic elements of Georgian society and the Georgian power
structures could target the ethnic Armenians community as scapegoats"
explained Hilda Tchoboian. "Georgia has compelling interest in
moving toward a policy of respect for the rights of minorities –
especially those of the ethnic Armenians of Javakhk – as per its
commitments to the Council of Europe. Trying to build a centralized,
unitary state in the 21st century is simply unrealistic for a diverse,
multiethnic country such as Georgia" concluded the president of the
European Armenian Federation.
The Federation holds that the EU has a vital role to play in
implementing confidence building programs in Georgia.