Interview with Tom Samuelyan, dean of the department of law of the American University of Armenia, doctor of jurisprudence and philosophy, who studied with Obama at Harvard university.
– Many Armenians are leaving the homeland. You returned to Armenia. Have you found the same Armenia that every Diaspora Armenian has in the dreams?
– Partly. Because I studied at the Yerevan State University and worked with Moscow and Alma-Ata during the Soviet times, and I had some imagination already. Every person has different approach to the life. For me it is important what I am doing and creating with my efforts and life. It is a simple fact that you are creating where you are living and working. For me it is important to do it on the Armenian land and with Armenians.
– Is it easy for you to work and leave in Armenia?
– It is not always easy, but generally yes. I have learnt a lot of things while living in Armenia.
– Armenia and the Armenian culture have been under the Russian influence for a long time, and every Armenian Diaspora is under the influence of the given country. Which is the way to finding the national identity and cultural unity?
– For many Diaspora Armenians the Russian influence is strange because the Russian culture is not a part of their cultural heritage. Now we need tolerance and understanding. Due to knowing each other better slowly we will understand the diversity that exists in Armenians, thus our relations will be easier, we will exchange with our understandings and establish common things that reflect that diversity.
– Will the Armenian culture revive, continue separating, become a small thing, or will it tend to becoming something global like the massive culture?
– Due to not being widely recognized in the global culture the Armenian culture is endangered from outside. It would be better if the Armenian culture was recognized by other nations. It is already impossible to live like an island. When others know about your culture it is more possible that your culture may breathe and develop. But from inside we are still struggling with the results of the Genocide and the fact that the Armenian people were spread in the world during the Soviet times, as a result of which we are used to following the world stream and be suspicious to innovations. However when a culture does not live and develop, it is becoming a museum exhibit in dust, it is respected but not loved, it doesn’t breathe. It is time to give a new breathe to our culture.
– In our society unfair people are judging the fair ones, non-competent people are winning the competent ones. How can this disruptive wheel be stopped?
– There is no fully fair country free of violations. However many countries have succeeded in creating an environment which is predictable and fair for the majority of their societies allowing them to have protected and normal life. It is not created spontaneously. Every society should establish rules for itself, which will be accepted by the entire community. Imperfect laws impact not only people, but also the ideology of fairness. Currently the traditional behavior which is characteristic to this region continues. Change of generation will partially change that behavior. It can change faster if the society realizes and wants it. Sometimes it is better not to regulate than regulate partially and do less, within the scopes of our possibilities It is better to provide adequate financial support and quality than do more and fail because of lack of resources. Currently the law requirements are very heavy both for the state and private sectors, due to which the results are not good.
– It seems that the Diaspora is only a financial donor for Armenia. Why do the Diaspora representative have low participation in the life of Armenia?
– For many Diaspora Armenians the conditions in new countries are strange, and being conscious specialists they understand that their knowledge does not correspond to the environment of this country. Contribution should be appreciated in order not to step back. Definitely some of them tried to participate, but as they did not have the results they had expected, they were disappointed. Such disappointment should be worked out through collective work, through accepting the mistakes in the past, asking to forgive and forgiving. It is what a Christian nation should do.
– In societies education is an important factor for change. However, during many years nothing changes in our country. People are trying to fit the same system to the new times and requirements. What are the most important changes that should be done?
– Education is a process, due to which all we are trying to improve our lives and talents granted by the God, thanks to our God and parents, for the sake of our society and happiness. First of all the education system should be reconsidered form this point of view. Does it give equal opportunities to everyone be formed as a person? Education is sustainable. We shall learn during our life. The ability to get knowledge by oneself is an essential factor. Because the source of new information is the internet, and most part of the new information is in English. It is important to create an environment for helping people to learn English, for example we can create new TV programs in English for children. People know Russian everywhere in Armenia; all they have the opportunity to communicate in Russian both in their families and in streets.
– You studied with Barak Obama at Harvard university. Was he a good student? Did you expect that he would make a race revolution in the world?
– He was an excellent student. It was impossible to forecast that he would become the US president, but the American voters could challenge this historical barrier of their country through their vote and opened new doors and opportunities not only in Armenia but also in other countries. It came to prove that a hard-working and intellectual person, who doesn’t have rich parents and is a representative of national minority can become the president of a country and one of the most popular persons in the world in fair conditions. It is a good example not only for Americans.
– American Armenians have great expectations from Obama. They hope that at least he will pronounce the word Genocide. As an international lawyer do you think that it is good for Armenians to be known in the world only with the issue of the Genocide? What are your expectations?
– Obama knew about the Genocide long ago, at least from the times when he was a student; he knew about the Genocide and had Armenian classmate friends, who told him the story of their families. As a lawyer, he truly understands that condemnation of the past violence will prevent new possible violence. He also understands that violence doesn’t concern only the two parties, i.e the one who did and the one who suffered; it concerns the norms of the community. When a community does not condemn the violence and says that it is acceptable, it collapses the values of the given community. Obama has numerously condemned the Darfur and other genocides, and I think that he will support the issue of the Armenian genocide as well.