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 President Serzh Sargsyan addressed in joint news conference with President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is paying official visit to Switzerland, had a joint news conference with the President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey. President’s press office reports that Serzh Sargsyan released a statement during the conference.

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
We’ve just had a comprehensive discussion with my dear colleague over a range of issues of mutual interests. We’ve signified the high level political dialogue formed between Armenia and Switzerland in the recent years, which has been reflected in the mutual visits and symbolized by the establishment of Swiss Embassy in Yerevan. The Embassies in our countries will contribute to new dynamics and to the development of the further bilateral cooperation.

We’ve shared view points that the cooperation between Armenia and Switzerland has a powerful potential and performed mutual interests to realize the prospects of the economic cooperation.

I’ve suggested to my Swiss counterpart to carry out on the mutual partnership basis cooperation in jewelry, watch making, agriculture, as well tourism, education and science, culture fields, indeed by encouraging the representatives of those fields to implement business projects.

I’ve expressed my sincere gratitude to Swiss government for Armenia’s participation to the 25th International Book and Press Fair as an honored guest. Yesterday, I’ve enjoyed my visit to that world event, where I’ve witnessed the cordial reception and tribute that Switzerland honored to 500th anniversary of Armenian book printing.”

UNESCO has declared Yerevan the world Book Capital for 2012; numerous events will be conducted, concerts and exhibitions.
My meeting with Micheline Calmy-Rey also focused on the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, South Caucasus problems. On this occasion, I never get tired of thanking friendly Switzerland and especially President Micheline Calmy-Rey for the invaluable personal effort as a mediator in the negotiations on the Armenian-Turkish normalization.

We seek to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions. Unfortunately, high-ranking Turkish officials spare no effort to turn away this striving. Instead of taking steps towards ratification of the protocols, Turkey maintains its effort to drive wedge between Armenia and the Diaspora. Turkey will be constantly losing our trust in the rapprochement (which has been already reduced to a minimum) while it is maintaining its effort.

I am surprised that Turkey does not realize that the Diaspora that emerged due to the Genocide is an integral part of the Armenian people, is our pride and power. The Diaspora Armenians are Ambassadors of Armenia spread all over the world, for instance, Charles Aznavour is the Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland, and many act voluntarily, upon the dictates of their hearts. Deserved citizens of the countries that gave them refuge, they are also able to make a contribution to progress and development of our country. From the very first day of restoration of the Armenian statehood, our compatriots throughout the world proved in practice that the progress of their homeland is their supreme dream.

In this context, I want to draw your attention to another very important circumstance. Switzerland’s mediation mission in the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement testifies that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide can only for a short time damage relations between Turkey and states that have recognized the Genocide. We saw that Switzerland condemned that horrible crime against humanity, which is Switzerland’s equal victory of justice, irrefutable historical facts and supremacy of human rights over all geopolitical and military technical considerations. However, most importantly, this did not hinder Switzerland from supporting the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement after a short while. The example of Switzerland is certainly the best one in this respect, and many countries worldwide must learn by the example of Switzerland.”