Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan defended Oleg Yesayan
Last week, at the meeting with the Armenian reporters in Moscow, the well-known Russian TV reporter Vladimir Solovyov, speaking about the Armenian lobby in Russia, rather say, about inactiveness of the Armenian lobby, also said, “I am not familiar with the Ambassador of Armenia to Russia.” In further meetings with Armenian journalists, similar views were expressed by various government officials too. Even comparisons were made with the active work of the ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia. One of our interlocutors working with Caucasus regional countries noted that he has not been in the Armenian embassy to Moscow for at least five years, while he has been in the embassy of Azerbaijan many times on various occasion: cultural events and receptions. Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan definitely does not accept such statements. On this occasion, in an interview with “Aravot”, he said, “Our embassy has the most important functions in Moscow, it represents Armenia in the Russian Federation with whom we have an extensive agenda. And as far as I am aware of, as long as I am not coordinating this direction, quite systematic work has been carried out with various Russian government agencies.” To our observation that during the war days in April, the passivity of our Embassy in Russia became quite apparent; perhaps having the biggest community in Russia, the most passive attitude was displayed, which was heavily criticized, Karen Nazaryan countered, “The ambassador’s task is not seen or can be assessed only by the statements or interviews. Opportunely, some time ago, the foreign minister delivering a speech at the Parliament made a comparison, saying that the diplomacy is like an iceberg; the main and extensive work that is implemented by the Foreign Ministry and its subordinate departments are not visible. Hence, if the ambassador has not given many interviews for some reasons, it does not mean that he is passive. Our ambassador is pretty active.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
“Aravot” daily
