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Conversation with Van Z.
Krikorian U.S. aid to Armenia reflects the close relationship that exists between Armenians and Americans. There are other reasons for the levels of aid Armenia is receiving, including the consequences of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. The results of this aid have clearly been mixed. While some programs have paid obvious dividends, Armenia does not look like a country that has received over $1.2 billion in U.S. aid. The advent of military assistance is something that we are especially happy about, as we believe that it will strengthen the relationship between Armenia and the United States. It will help create a more secure future. Considering the United States' new orientation toward global terrorism, what is the Armenian Assembly doing to ensure that foreign assistance to Armenia remains relevant? Armenia has faced and continues to face mortal threats from the same types of terrorist forces that attacked America. In this regard, we've seen Russia and the United States come together in the war against terrorism. Since Armenia also has so much at stake in winning this war, there is a natural convergence of interests among the three countries so the investments made into the U.S.-Armenia and Russia-Armenia relationships can pay better dividends than ever before. We hear from local business leaders that foreign aid to Armenia is often stolen or misused. They argue that assistance should be invested directly into businesses that will put people back to work. How do you respond? We are deeply concerned with any misuse of foreign aid to Armenia. We believe that all such allegations should be thoroughly investigated and enforced with strict accountability. The same is true for misused funds, which are intended to benefit no one, except the people of Armenia and do not effectuate that intent. This is an area in which the Assembly needs and intends to do more. If local business leaders or anyone else believes that they can get more bang for the U.S. buck, we would support it and expect the U.S. government to listen and back such initiatives. Peace Corps first arrived in Armenia in December 1992. To date, approximately 260 volunteers have served here. Do you believe Peace Corps volunteers are needed in Armenia? In what capacity? The Peace Corps volunteers are a tremendous asset and have earned an excellent reputation in Armenia and among Armenian-Americans, particularly for the technical skills training and English education programs they provide. The Peace Corps also does a great job training Armenian teachers in western methodology, and promoting teamwork among young people through sports and cultural activities. They give young Armenians a hand up. I look forward to seeing Peace Corps volunteers operating the same kinds of developmental programs in Nagorno Karbagh in the not too distant future. Every April 24, the U.S. president acknowledges the "deportations and massacres" of Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. One of the Armenian Assembly's primary goals is to persuade the United States to affirm that the Ottoman campaign was, in fact, "genocide" against the Armenian nation. How important is this distinction? The distinction is critical for several reasons. First, the legal term "genocide" means something quite specific and not using it, dilutes the Armenian experience. This is not only at odds with U.S. history but also U.S. interests in preventing future genocides. In addition, the need for the Turkish people to understand their own history cannot be underestimated. By crossing the Rubicon of terminology, with the use of "genocide", the United States would be supporting those in Turkey who acknowledge there was a genocide and are willing to deal with their history openly, but are inhibited by government policies and practices over the years. Use of the term "genocide" would also significantly improve the security situation in the region because while other countries such as Russia readily acknowledge the genocide, the U.S. loses credibility in the Nagorno Karabagh peace process and in the general conduct of international affairs by not doing so. This "loss of credibility" consideration is especially pertinent when the U.S. promotes and defends human rights; the current situation puts the U.S. at a disadvantage because it is clearly applying a double standard on genocide. As a practical matter, many of the initiatives that the United States would like to see succeed between Armenia and Turkey would be put on a fast track to success if the President used the "g" word, as he did during his campaign. |