YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. The former Prime Minister of the Great Britain Margaret Thatcher has always been hold in high esteems in Armenia. The visit of "Iron Lady" to Leninakan (Gyumri) on June in 1990 caused a lot of enthusiasm among the people, who had faced the whole bitterness of the devastative earthquake. "Armenpress" had a conversation with the former First Secretary of the Central Commission of Armenia’s Communist Party Vladimir Movsisyan about the details, impressions, and character traits of the "Iron Lady".

- Mr. Movsisyan, why did the Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher pay visit to Armenia almost two years after the earthquake hit Spitak?

- Margaret Thatcher was a world known figure. During her stay in office Great Britain recorded a big progress. Moreover, I still remain a communist and cannot put up with the idea that Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbachev, and Yakovlev managed to destruct that powerful state, instead of restoring it. But let's leave it aside. Let's talk about her visit to Armenia. During the discussions regarding her visit, it was decided that the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Armenia Vladimir Margaryants will host her. And when one day was left before the launch of her visit, Yakovlev called me and asked to participate in all of that, because not paying a visit to the earthquake area would be interpreted in quiet other way. I and Margaryants welcomed her in the Leninakan airport. Her visit's objective was to participate in the opening ceremony of an English centre of school.

- How did she communicate with the people?

- She was approaching and talking with everyone. Thatcher herself was engaged in the organization of the visit. She had meetings with everyone she wanted to meet with. She had conversations with a number of citizens. She spent a lot of time with children. She even invited the constructor to the stage and presented him her picture.

It was a free and easy visit. Because of the excitement she had forgotten that she "was made of iron" and turned into a common man, who can be compassionate and excited, who can cry, laugh, and become proud. We are grateful to everyone, even for a small support and stretching a helpful hand in that difficult situation.

- Listening to Your narrative, one may think that Thatcher was not "that much iron".

- In this case I saw that there was nothing made of iron and steel. She was a common man, who can be excited, who can laugh, talk, embrace children, and speak to common people. Notwithstanding in politics she was really an "iron lady". (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Hakob Vardanyan