SDHP chairman: “Today, our homeland is on the rise”

Dr. Hampig Sarafian, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), has described the Pashinyan administration’s policies as pragmatic and multi-vector.

In an interview with Armenpress, Sarafian addressed a wide range of issues on Armenia’s foreign policy agenda today.

“What the political leadership of Armenia is doing today is an entirely correct, pragmatic policy, which is also multi-vector. We cannot imagine otherwise how the problems can be solved in such a situation and how we can achieve our goals. We view positively the growing interest of the international community in Armenia; we now have the means that were not available before. The international community previously did not show proper economic interest toward Armenia; it is particularly encouraging to see the continued development of relations with the United States and European countries,” Sarafian said.

He said that in the United States, Armenia is equally accepted as a friendly country by both Republicans and Democrats. According to Sarafian, during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, bilateral relations have changed significantly and favorably.

“Progress in terms of peace in the region, and especially economic opportunities, is significant. Trump’s interest in the Crossroads of Peace initiative is evident, recognizing that peace stems from the interests of the countries of the region and international partner states. Great hopes are certainly associated with TRIPP. It is encouraging that concrete steps have already been taken and the agreements reached in advance have not remained on paper. TRIPP is also a guarantee of [Armenia's] security,” Sarafian said.

Taking into account the principles on which current international politics is based, Sarafian notes that the greatest security guarantee is that Armenia can develop strategic, mutually beneficial relations with a number of countries.

“First and foremost, we must find common ground with our immediate neighbors, whatever the relations with them may be, while on the other hand pursuing a proactive policy, because only in this way can we make our partners understand that bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation stems from this. Today our homeland is on the rise. There are many problems in Armenia, as in all countries, but our homeland is definitely on the path of progress. We are enthusiastic about Armenia, and we hope that a day will come when there will be a great influx of people, and there will no longer be concerns that Armenians in the Diaspora may assimilate and lose their identity,” Sarafian said.