Interfax, Russia
Feb 12 2009
Charles Aznavour to be Armenia ambassador to Switzerland
YEREVAN Feb 12
French pop singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour, who is an ethnic
Armenian and received Armenian citizenship in December 2008, said in a
television program on Thursday that he had accepted an offer to be
Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland.
"At first I had doubts because I thought this was not an easy job.
But then I thought that what was important for Armenia must be
important for all of us. And I accepted this offer with joy, pleasure
and deep veneration," Aznavour told Armenian Public Television.
Earlier, the Armenian press said, citing Spanish newspaper El Pais,
that Aznavour had turned down the offer.
The Armenian press said Aznavour had told El Pais that Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan had recently offered to name him as
ambassador to Switzerland.
"I felt proud and was happy that day. However, the next day I thought
that, if I accepted the offer, I would lose my freedom. If the
government made a decision I disliked, I would feel bad. I can’t give
up my freedom for an honorary title," the Armenian press quoted
Aznavour as saying to the Spanish paper.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
