The interlocutor of “Aravot” is the co-president of the Co-ordination Council of Armenian organizations of France, the editor of “Nouvelles d’Arménie” journal Ara Toranyan
– Let us speak about the achievements of the Co-ordination Council of Armenian organizations of France. What role does the organization play in Armenia-France relations?
CCAF has very good relations with French authorities. It is 5 years we have been operating, still in the years of president Sarkozy’s rule. Therefore, the Armenian community of France has a status. For example, April 24 is officially commemorated by the French Republic with the President’s presence and president Hollande will be present at April 24th remembrance event of the current year and will make a speech. We organize annual supper in which county’s President, ministers, and intellectuals participate. Thus, The Armenian community of France has an official status and I believe Armenia-France relations pass through CCAF. Armenia is of a great importance to France forasmuch as there is an organized community in France. For example, in the last volume of “Nouvelles d’Arménie” journal we have interviews with all presidential candidates of the forthcoming presidential elections of France that have represented their positions on how they imagine the relations with Armenia, what stance they have relative to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and Armenian Genocide.
– Mr. Toranyan, Azerbaijan conducts serious lobbyist activities in European countries. There is even information on the pages of the international press as if this or that European Parliament MP has been bribed or “bought”. After the April War does particularly CCAF conduct any activities aimed at NK issue and representing more precise and correct perceptions regarding the bellicose politics of Azerbaijani authorities?
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– It is definite that Azerbaijan becomes gradually more organized, they have sufficient means, are very active in France alike. There are important trade and economic agreements between Azerbaijan and France and assuredly Azerbaijan endeavors to utilize these economic relations as a political lever. We try to resist these politics, we support NK during all our meetings with French authorities. But we should not deceive ourselves, there are projects of billions of contributions. Nevertheless, our community is our strength. We should certainly decently report that we have not succeeded in ceasing the relations between Azerbaijan and France, but we have succeeded in reaching a set of achievements for Armenia, e.g. in relation to France’s position towards Armenian Genocide.
– No one excludes new clashes, reiterations of massive military operations in Artsakh after April War. Rumors have commenced since the end of the year implying that France can organize Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting but it is not yet implemented. What information do you have on the operations by French authorities intended for NK conflict settlement?
– It is clear that we are concerned, hardly reconcile to the fact that our young boys aged 20 stand before death every day. We use every means we have at hand to assist Karabakh. When Aliyev arrived in France we organized demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. We cooperate with the Embassy of Armenia in France and Nagorno-Karabakh representation, try to strengthen their ties with French circles. For example, we utilized our connections with French political elite for some of them to visit Karabakh, to have publications by French media on Karabakh which is extremely important. It is plain that we do not have the means Azerbaijan has, which simply “buys” European MPs. We see that they are too active in France alike and that France is of a great importance to them.
– The signing of a new document between Armenia and EU is planned this year. How effective will EU-Armenia relations be according to you taking into consideration the factor that Armenia is EEU member?
– It is a very important question. I think that France, Francois Hollande in particular, put huge efforts for Armenia to be able to reestablish ties with EU simultaneously being EEU member. When Hollande had come to Armenia he promised this, at that time all negotiations with EU were ceased inasmuch as Armenia had become EEU member. France, Hollande particularly, tried to find a route by which conjunction would be possible for Armenia to be able to preserve its historical signification and position in the crossroad of this complex region.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
