Armenian President meets with Armenian community of Germany

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan arriving in Germany on an official visit met with members of Armenian community on June 21 at Hotel Adlon near Brandenburg Gate.

Leader of German Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His Eminence Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan addressed the meeting with a greeting speech speaking about the history of Armenian community’s establishment and their problems.

Head of Central Board of Armenians in Germany Adam Ordukhanyan also addressed the Armenian President and those present mentioning that besides 60 thousand Armenians living in Germany there are almost as much Islamized Armenians in the country.

As mentioned, there are nearly 40 Armenian organizations in Germany, 13 out of which are united within the Board of Armenians in Germany. The latter attends to solution of all problems of local Armenian community focusing on political work.

Political Adviser of Central Board of Armenians in Germany Andranik Aznavuryan also gave brief information about their activity at the meeting with the Armenian President mentioning that they work in two main directions – Nagorno Karabakh problem and recognition of Armenian Genocide. Andranik Aznavuryan said that the Armenian side is not satisfied with the resolution adopted by Bundestag several years ago, where use of term “genocide” gives occasion to doubt. According to him, they seek to adopt a new document to stipulate more exactly legal classification of the Armenian Genocide.

Andranik Aznavuryan said that local Azerbaijanis spend large sums of money on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh and carry out huge lobbying activities along with the Turks. According to Aznavuryan, to oppose it, Armenian lobbyist organizations activities should be reformed and “community’s and Armenia’s efforts should be combined.” Mr. Aznavuryan also rated important in this issue the necessity of periodic meetings with Armenian Ambassadors.

“It is a right proposal,” President Serzh Sargsyan said assuring that henceforth Armenian Embassies will collaborate more actively with local Armenian organizations.

Meanwhile the President reminded that a permanent contact between the communities and Armenian government by the format of periodical discussions is kept on not only with meetings between Ambassadors, but the President personally as well as the Prime Minister, parliament Speaker and other officials, if possible, have such meetings during their foreign trips.

The meeting participants expressed their points of view and asked questions receiving explanations from the Armenian President. Serzh Sargsyan spoke about Armenian side’s position and approaches in connection with German Armenians’ concern over the Nagorno Karabakh problem. The issue of preservation of Armenian identity, socio-economic situation in Armenia, normalization of relations with Turkey was also discussed.