STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan presented details from his recent visit to the United States in an interview to ARMENPRESS.

“Strengthening Homeland-Diaspora ties as the key component, idea, is on the basis of the state-building of our foreign policy. From this perspective we attach special attention to the expansion, deepening of ties with Armenians of the Diaspora and ensuring that these relations remain at a high level. We are obliged to always keep firm our ties with the Diaspora. Armenians of the United States have always played an active role in the development and strengthening of the Homeland. Diaspora-Armenians participated in almost every program in Artsakh through the Hayastan All Armenian Fund and other channels. In addition, our compatriots living in the USA have implemented numerous political initiatives aimed at the recognition of Artsakh by different US states, towns and other local self-government bodies. Thanks to these initiatives, various pro-Armenian resolutions have been adopted by the US Congress and Senate. In other words, a major work has been done”, the FM said.

He said that Artsakh now should become the most important idea for Armenians, and the focus on Artsakh should be the pillar of the Diaspora. “What I say doesn’t mean at all that we should refuse from other national fundamental goals, as the recognition of the Genocide, etc, but in this particular case the focus on Artsakh is a priority. Artsakh must be saved because there won’t be Armenia and Diaspora without Artsakh. In this regard, we have had important meetings with the US public, political and analytical circles. We have presented the situation to our traditional friends who continue supporting the interests of Artsakh and Armenians. Therefore, it’s also very important to see what approaches the United States has. We need to be very realistic. Naivety, moreover, adventurism, costs and will cost very high in geopolitics. We need to understand very well the interests of different countries, our place and role in that in order to take right steps. I would like to note that the United States is the only country which still could restrain Turkey’s expansionist aspirations. But a little time has been left in this respect because Turkey will be a totally autonomous geopolitical player in several years. I would not like a repeat of Germany’s example in 1930s when different poles supported Nazis in the same way in order to use them against the Soviet Union, or vice verse, the Soviet Union has tried to do the same against the West, and in the end everyone suffered. The present is very similar to that situation. The visit to the US doesn’t mean in any way that we are changing some geopolitical vectors. Artsakh has always had its approaches, firstly guided by pan-Armenian interests and traditional ties with the Diaspora. It’s worth noting that in fact, Russia is the only country that really ensures the security of Armenians of Artsakh, which is impossible without Russian peacekeepers. On the other hand, the United States is the only country that can still restrain Turkey through political means. This is the situation. In general, the visit has been broadly covered, and I think, it has been useful”, the Artsakh FM said.

When asked what results could be expected in practice from the meetings held in the United States, the FM said: “Our visit coincided with several initiatives in the US such as the official adoption of April 24 as an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in California, as well as different resolutions, projects were presented which condemn the Azerbaijani aggression, call on the US to stop the respective aid to Azerbaijan, etc. This means that we should work with our friends, with the people of good will in order to restrain the expansionist aspirations of Turkey and Azerbaijan. It’s a long process, but is also an important direction”.

FM Babayan said that Artsakh’s rating is unprecedentedly high in the Diaspora. “Artsakh is truly sacred for the Diaspora, this is very good. If we manage to turn Artsakh-centricity into a basis of nationwide unity, we will have much greater opportunities for saving the homeland. What had happened with Artsakh, and in general what is happening as a result of the aggressive policy of Azerbaijan and Turkey, has caused a very great pain there as well. But I didn’t see apathy, but a big desire to revive”, he said.