The world famous chansonnier Charles Aznavour, in his shocking interview with Nouvelles d’Armenie newspaper, slammed the government authorities of Armenia, which raised a big fuss when it was reprinted and distributed by local mass media. Speaking about the reasons for migration, Charles Aznavour had said that we have a tiny and unfortunate country that is almost dying off for the second time. He said that each day the country is being emptied, and in the near future it will resemble an empty snail shell. “And who profits from this? Three Mafiosi families? All the while hundreds of thousands of poor people will be dispersed throughout the world. We are doing nothing to help the people living there. Just the opposite. I know awful stories about the Mafiosi who are literally devouring the villagers on their lands. Those Mafia members must be executed.”
“Aravot” talked on this to Armenian Minister of Diaspora, Hranush Hakobyan, who assured that Aznavour’s interview is concocted and he could not say such things about the government authorities. “I would like to say anything to Aznavour. He is our big name. On several occasions, it appeared that Aznavour often does not say things, but it is built around him. This also happens. Several cases occurred and it turned out that he has not given such interviews. And then, the fact that there is a migration it is not news, we all know it. There is an immigration.” As for the observation that our country is ruled by Mafiosi, Hranush Hakobyan said, “I do not think that Aznavour would say something like that because I know how he treats our country’s leadership, I have attended the meetings. I think that they are just words that are used. Let us leave Aznavour alone forever, let him remain a big name. He is the forefather of our nation, the big name of our nation, we must bow down before him. His name is sufficient to introduce the Armenian nation to the world. There are things that should not be uttered.”
“Aravot” daily
