Armenian scientist, businessman, and philanthropist Nubar Afeyan also answered journalists’ questions after the meeting at YSU. He said that he is happy to be in the biggest university of Armenia that noticed his activities and achievements. He added that he has been dealing with various universities throughout his life, and although it is his first time at YSU, he hopes to start and develop cooperation.
To Aravot’s question about how he feels about the issue that Armenian-Turkish relations can be settled at the expense of the genocide, Noubar Afeyan answered that the Armenian Genocide is a historical reality that no government can deny. According to him, on the other hand, one should not endlessly search for new facts about the Genocide, because if it had not happened, most Armenians would not have been scattered around the world. He remembered how 2 years ago the Turkish press presented him, an already established businessman and scientist, as a Turk.
According to Noubar Afeyan, current conversations should go in a different direction and be anchored on the present and the future and not on the past. “We can pursue the past with legal and other methodologies and see what Turkey’s approach will be. But also we cannot not create economic and other ties, so it is possible to do it slowly and carefully, because in the end we want Armenia to develop, for this we need to find a way and not mix everything together.” We asked if he has any plans for the students of Artsakh. Referring to the Future Armenian initiative and their studies in various fields, Afeyan spoke about the Artsakh Forum and the professional efforts and programs organized there. “After the war, we actively participated in the reconstruction and reconstruction of Karabakh in a mediated way. Recently, discussions have been held there about issues related to current difficulties.”
Gohar HAKOBYAN
