ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA SHOULD BE REPLACED
Lragir, Armenia
Oct 29 2007
The president of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan set
forward a proposal October 29 at the Hayeli Club regarding the people
leaving Armenia for Moscow. In connection with the murder of another
Armenian young man in Moscow Levon Ananyan said these murders are
usual for such an immense crater as Moscow, so we need to think of
steps to insure our citizens, compatriots.
"In this connection, I think the embassy should revise its passive
attitude and take pro-active steps, because its primary function
is to protect the rights of our citizens in Russia, in this case,"
Levon Ananyan says. Besides, Levon Ananyan proposes handing out
memo-guides to our citizens leaving for Moscow, containing tips on
what, what actions, what places to avoid in Moscow not to become
victims of nationalists.
Ruben Hakhverdyan, composer, partly shares Levon Ananyan’s opinion.
Ruben Hakhverdyan was also hosted at the Hayeli Club. He says
memo-guides cannot fix the problem. Meanwhile, the Armenian ambassador
to Russia should be replaced, he thinks. "For the ambassador who
is called Armen Smbatyan. I rather think he is improving his own
relations, for whatever reason, the Armenians are hilarious to receive
Luzhkov or Kobzon in Armenia. They have bought the Dvin Hotel, I don’t
know what else. What are they so delighted about? What do Luzkkov or
Kobzon mean to them, they are just citizens of another country? The
Armenians have some Asian flattering attitude toward some Russian
masters, and this is not the best thing about our people. I think a
person such as Armen Smbatyan, if they appointed him ambassador to
Russia, nothing else should be expected. He is a common conformist, he
is solving his problems. I think he used to work at the Conservatoire
of Yerevan, he is now enjoying the money of the Conservatoire," Ruben
Hakhverdyan says, adding that the Conservatoire which used to be the
second in the Soviet Union has no top professional teachers now because
everyone prefers abroad to teaching here for 15 to 20 thousand drams.
As to the Armenian and Russian relation, particularly the murders of
Armenians in Moscow, Ruben Hakhverdyan says Russian chauvinism is not
something new, especially now when Putin is trying to boost national
morale, and is using different propaganda methods, that they should
not drink, they should have many children not to get assimilated.
"You know, I applaud to the Georgians, for their proud attitude toward
Russia. I like their negligent attitude more than the flattery of
the Armenians, that embassy [he means the Russian embassy to Armenia]
which reminds of the cult of phallus," Ruben Hakhverdyan says.
The ambassador carries out the government policy, if he fails, he
should be replaced, if they have not replaced, it means the government
approves, says Karine Hakobyan, publicist, chair of the Reform NGO,
who was also hosted at the Hayeli club. According to her, the problem
is different. Karine Hakobyan points to the mission of a government,
saying that one of its missions is to protect its citizens abroad. "All
the problems, if you have noticed, are solved at a public level. For
instance, the pilots were arrested in Africa, Ara Abrahamyan helped
to release them, who represents a non-governmental organization. The
problem should be considered in its full depth, and the government
must acknowledge its mission and function," Karine Hakobyan says.
They think the Armenian intelligentsia voicing concern for the murder
of Armenians in Russia should address the Armenian government rather
than the Russian government, for the Armenian government should be
more responsible for the security of its citizens. Ruben Hakhverdyan
proposes an extreme way. He says the aliens killed in Russia for their
ethnic identity should come together and give an adequate response
to the Russians. Henrik Garukyan, a painter, says a big church is
being built at the center of Moscow. If they are strong enough to
build a church, why are they unable to protect our compatriots,
the painter asks?