“FOREIGN POLICY STARTS AT HOME”: SENIOR ADVISOR TO RA PRIME MINISTER ARSEN GASPARYAN DELIVERS A LECTURE AT YSU

The Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Professor Ruben Melkonyan greeting those present informed that with today’s first lecture they start a series of lectures to be delivered by the specialists of Oriental studies who take diplomatic and other state offices. The series of lectures is conditionally called “Orientalists at the Faculty of Oriental Studies”.

“It’s an honour for us that the first lecture of this initiative is delivered by the RA Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor Arsen Gasparyan who is one of the alumni of our faculty”, said Professor Melkonyan.

Recollecting his studentship Arsen Gasparyan noted, “There are some moments which are always with me and will never disappear. I’d like to recollect my tutor and the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Mary Kochar from whom I learnt a lot. She was a great person. In the days of the Soviet Union, during the lectures she compared the Tanzimat reforms of the ottoman Empire with Gorbachov’s “Perestroyka”, the medieval Turkish Sufi literature with the Hippies’ movement of the 1960s in England”, said Arsen Gasparyan and added that today these themes remain actual and can become a material for research.

Touching upon Armenia-Turkey dialogue Arsen Gasparyan presented the development of the relationship beginning from Armenia’s independence.
“Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Armenia as an independent state, and in 1992, when I was working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we received a note from the MFA of Turkey proposing Armenia to establish diplomatic relationship. However, the process wasn’t started. To talk about the Armenian-Turkish dialogue and relationship after Armenia’s becoming independent, we must consider them in two aspects: Armenian-Turkish bilateral dialogue and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh”, presented Mr. Gasparyan.

According to him, a very active period started afterwards which lasted till Shushi liberation.

During those few months numerous Turkish businessmen came to Armenia. In 1992 Armenian businessmen in Armenia had no experience of business negotiations and approaches, the situation of economics was terrible. It was interesting to experience that period, to listen to the approaches of Turkish business circles related to Armenian-Turkish trade and economic relationship development”, informed the Advisor.

Mr. Gasparyan mentioned that after Shushi liberation the dialogue slowed down and sometimes stopped. He considered that period the most active one in the relationship between the two countries.

“I tend to call that process a dialogue, when the parties are trying to clarify each other’s positions”, he said.

Mr. Gasparan added that some trials were undertaken to create various platforms for dialogue, but Ankara had the firm position that the establishment of diplomatic, trade and economic relations and opening of borders are directly connected with the regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Touching upon the foreign policy Arsen Gasparyan stressed that it is passed on two pillars-security and economics.

Referring to the RA foreign policy he stated, “The economic component is attached particular importance in the new program of foreign policy of the Government. It will be reflected in foreign investments, discovery of new markets, involvement of the business potential of the Diaspora, increasing of exports of Armenian production, boosting tourism and activation of the work of inter-governmental commissions”.

The speaker stressed that in the 21st century it is impossible to separate the foreign policy from foreign economic policy.

“Toda Armenia needs a strong economic component in the foreign policy. The Armenian ambassadors must think about the economic situation in Armenia. The activity of Armenian embassies is to be aimed at bringing economic profits to the country. If we announce that we are starting the stage of economic revolution it means that it is impossible without involvement of embassies, as the foreign policy starts at home. We must build our foreign policy in Yerevan”, said Mr. Gasparyan.

As regards the Armenia-Turkey relationship and the “without preconditions” formula he noted that it is very important to have public discussions.
Answering the questions of those present Arsen Gasparyan stressed the importance of attraction of scientists to this theme.

At the end of the meeting Professor Melkonyan presented the prime Minister’s Advisor with a book about the history of the Republic of Turkey and expressed gratitude for sincere discussion and giving a start to the series of lectures.