President Sargisian Talks at Harvard’s Kennedy School

Sargisian brought up the crisis in the Middle East, especially Syria, and how it affects tens of thousands of Armenians there who are the descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Armenia by virtue of geography and history is also affected. It has, he said, already accepted around 20,000 Syrian citizens, which, per capita, is the second highest figure in Europe.

He said that a “comprehensive and durable peace in Syria” must be established through united international efforts, especially between Russia and the US, in order to solve the broader refuge problem emptying the Middle East of its Christians.

Sargisian noted that it is to Armenia’s interest to support cooperation between superpowers, as their conflict has grievous outcomes for small nations, with the Armenian Genocide during World War I being just one example. Sargisian said that though the world recognizes and condemns this crime, “what is of utmost importance to us is recognition by Turkey and its facing its own history.” He pointed out that Turkey continues its denial and in 2015 cynically commemorated the centennial of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24 instead of the usual date in March. On the other hand, he was hopeful that a new generation in Turkey one day would become strong enough to make its government speak the truth. Fundamental democratization in Turkey, he added, would also allow all ethnic and religious groups living in that country, including Armenians, to feel themselves to be full and equal citizens.

Sargisian concluded by noting that the US was the first country to open an embassy in Armenia and implement aid programs. Today, he said, cooperation was extensive between the two countries, and the Armenian-American community serves as “an essential bridge” between the two. He said proudly that “in the past 25 years of independence, Armenia has grown from a country receiving international aid to a contributor to the world peace. Armenia currently has its peacekeepers stationed in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Mali, as a responsible member of the international community.” Though Armenia still has a way to travel before becoming a stable democracy, Sargisian said that after 25 years of independence, it is time to sum up the history of a “newly-independent state” and enter into the stage of “maturity.”

Questions were then taken from the audience for almost half an hour. Allison started off with an easy one, about the Washington Nuclear Security Summit. Others asked about the probability of war and the negotiations concerning Karabagh, the most beneficial fields of US-Armenian cooperation, what the president takes back with him to Armenian from his Boston visit (“pride”), and how the portfolio of Armenian exports might change over the next 25 years.

In response to a question by Berge Jololian of Watertown, Mass. on what the president will do to assure the proper representation of the Armenian populace in the Armenian parliament, especially when some deputies run private businesses, Sargisian responded that first he has asked for technical assistance from the US, EU, UN and others to assure fair elections. Secondly, he said that electoral laws must be reformed according to international standards. Finally, he questioned why people with private businesses can’t be in parliament. Some of these businesses belong to the wife, uncle, nephew or other relatives of the deputy. He suggested that this demand should be made of Armenian citizens as well as of the government: in other words, he said, let the citizens not vote for such candidates.

The final question came from a Kennedy School student originally from Russia whose mother grew up in an Armenian village. He asked what programs Armenia had to engage its diasporan communities in the effort of helping Armenia grow and prosper. Sargisian responded that this was the most difficult question that he had been asked. If Armenia, he said, could take advantage of even ten percent of the abilities of the diaspora, it would become one of the strongest states in the world, but unfortunately, it has not yet been able to find the key.