Aznavour should be dismissed

15/10/2011

In the interview of famous chansonnier, Ambassador of Armenia in Switzerland Charles Aznavour given to Les Nouvelles d’Armenie is still being actively discussed in Armenia. In his interview Ambassador Aznavour addressed sharp critics to the situation in Armenia. Specifically, concerning emigration he said, “What is the main reason for emigration from Armenia? Nothing is being done there to help people. It is the vice versa, I know horrible stories about mafia people there. They do it in a manner that villagers stay hungry on their own lands. Such members of mafia should be shot down. This cannot continue anymore. Do you want to be involved in mafia? Go and establish your mafia in other countries. But do not do that in your country and against your people.” “If Turks have honesty to say that the word ‘Genocide’ is the obstacle for them, we will find another word, only to open the borders and the Turkish government thinks of dialogue with us. Armenia is in a great danger and everyone steps back for the word ‘Genocide’. I don’t see how it supports the development of the country. Where does such logic lead us to? Where are the people who criticize me for such opinion? What are they doing now to help Armenia? When do they send money? Should they give me a lesson? I am the one that gave them a lesson first. I have talked about it to a lawyer from the US, who employs 300 lawyers. He was thinking like the others. But I explained my opinion to him and he agreed that I was right. I am not a politician. I don’t understand anything in that. I know only one thing; we have a piece of small and unlucky country, which is almost dying for the third time. And we are speaking of a different thing.” The former Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Arman Navasardyan has said concerning this announcement that the Ambassador did not have that right and it was a violation of loyalty. “Notwithstanding what the personal opinion of the Ambassador is, what historical past his family has had, being an official representative of a country he has to say only things that are accepted by the foreign policy doctrine. If he thinks otherwise, the solutions are writing a letter about it either before or after saying such statements that he ceases being Ambassador, or he should be dismissed from diplomatic service. This is the law on diplomatic service. But we should admit that the mistake was in the very beginning and came from those who appointed. Our foreign policy makes many mistakes in choosing professionals,” said A. Navasardyan.

Analyst Yervand Bozoyan, in contrast, thinks that as a great Armenian Aznavour had the right to make such statement, “It is funny to speak of Armenian world if the country is becoming empty and the authorities don’t care about it. I am happy that the Diaspora is concerned of this issue. Aram the First said this for the first time and Aznavour continued this idea.” He also said that generally PR actions are too much in the Armenian politics and such actions are making Dilijan a financial center for example. Thus, this appointment was another PR action. He believes it was a mistake to appoint Charles an Ambassador. He believes an artist should not be a diplomat and admits that Aznavour had also been an Ambassador to UNESCO, which in fact did not give anything to Armenia as the historical and cultural monuments continued to be demolished.