[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2121-E2122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TER-PETROSIAN WORKS TO BUILD DEMOCRACY, STABILITY

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, November 7, 1995

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on October 25, 1995, the Armenian Assembly 
of America presented a tribute in honor of Levon Ter-Petrosian, 
President of the Republic of Armenia. Along with distinguished 
colleagues from both houses of Congress and both parties, 
representatives of the administration and the diplomatic corps, and 
hundreds of Armenian-Americans, I had the great honor of welcoming the 
Armenian President on his visit to our Nation's capital.
  As the founder and, along with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Porter], Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I 
consider United States-Armenia relations to be one of our key foreign 
policy objectives. The Armenian people, having survived the genocide 
perpetrated against them by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, and seven 
decades of Soviet-oppression, have struggled valiantly to rebuild their 
country as a democracy while establishing good relations with the world 
community. It has not always been easy, given the blockades imposed 
upon Armenia by her neighbors Turkey and Azerbaijan. But with the 
strong support of the United States and the solidarity of the Armenian-
American community, I believe that this very young country--yet very 
ancient nation--will prevail.
  Mr. Speaker, the following is the text of President Ter-Petrosian's 
speech from October 25. I urge my colleagues to read this statement to 
gain a greater insight into the challenges facing the people of Armenia 
and the prospects for the entire Caucasus region.

          Statement of Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian

       Dear compatriots, your eminencies, senators, members of the 
     House of Representatives, representatives from the Clinton 
     administration, ambassadors--I hope I have this in correct 
     protocol order. In this hall there are so many members of 
     Congress, I suppose we could hold a session of Congress and 
     resolve all of our differences right here.
       In the speeches given here today, Armenia was presented in 
     such a wonderful way that I have very little left to say 
     myself. In any case the people who are here in this hall have 
     been with us from day one; they have participated in the 
     building of the country, and they are very well informed 
     about the goings on in Armenia. For that reason, I am not 
     going to speak about Armenia's problems and Armenia's 
     economic situation. Instead, I am going to speak about our 
     principles and about the ideology of our state.
       You consider the elections that took place this summer to 
     be a new step toward democracy in our country. I agree. But, 
     it must be noted that there has been a more important 
     development. With the election of July 5, Armenia got rid of 
     Communism once and for all. The Communists now have only 
     seven seats in Parliament. This is not the case in any other 
     former Soviet republic, or even in any other former socialist 
     republic. Communism is buried once and for all in Armenia.
       This means that Armenia has selected its path in a very 
     clear manner. That path is democracy and the free-market 
     system. This is our state ideology today, and we are going to 
     follow this path until the end. I cannot promise that, 
     during the time of my administration, we will succeed in 
     creating a complete democracy and a complete free-market 
     economy--I cannot promise this, and I do not promise this. 
     But I do promise that our administration will do 
     everything in its power to make democracy and the free 
     market irrevocable. This is the issue we face, and in this 
     matter, we cannot take steps backward--we will not waver. 
     We will continue until the end.
       The next important principle of our ideology is the matter 
     of national security. Here, too,we are not trying to 
     implement some sort of a very complicated philosophy. Rather, 
     we see resolution of this as a very simple issue. We find 
     that no security system and no superpower--be it the United 
     States or Russia--can guarantee our security.
       We believe that the key to our national security is our 
     friendship with our neighbors. Armenia does not want to have 
     any enemies. Nor does Armenia consider any country to be its 
     enemy--not even Azerbaijan. We do not consider Azerbaijan to 
     be our enemy. Azerbaijan is a country with which we have 
     serious political problems. And we must resolve the problems. 
     We must resolve our political problems with Azerbaijan--not 
     be deepening enmity--but through peaceful negotiations as a 
     serious political process. And that resolution must guarantee 
     the dignified and secure existence of Nagorno Karbagh.
       Even though Armenia is starting to stand up on its feet in 
     an economic sense today--and that is thanks, not only to our 
     efforts in the area of the economy, but also to the efforts 
     and assistance of the international 

[[Page E 2122]]
     community, and especially the United States of America--but, 
     nonetheless, we are still in a very difficult economic 
     situation. We have complex issues in the area of energy. We 
     are hopeful that this winter will be less severe than last 
     winter. We are better prepared for the winter than we were 
     last year and in years past. Soon our atomic energy plant 
     will also be supplying electricity, certainly by winter.
       But, I believe that there is a more important precondition 
     than energy for Armenia's economic future. That is the means 
     of communication between Armenia and the outside world. This 
     is more important, in economic terms, than all other issues. 
     Until we are able to have open access to the outside world 
     through all our neighbors--Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and 
     Georgia--we cannot have a normal economy. Our economic 
     destiny depends on two things: the pace of economic reforms 
     in Armenia, and how fast Armenia can become integrated into 
     the international economic system. This is the issue that we 
     must resolve together with you.
       I want to express my deep gratitude to all of you for the 
     great efforts which you have made on behalf of Armenia--
     efforts which are already showing fruition. And through the 
     people who are gathered here, I consider it my duty to 
     express my gratitude to the people and the government of the 
     United States of America. The aid that the United States has 
     given to Armenia over the past four years has been vital to 
     Armenia.
       I have several aspects in mind: first, the great 
     humanitarian assistance that has been given to Armenia; 
     second, the role of the United States in the huge assistance 
     that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have 
     given Armenia starting last year; and, third, the great role 
     that the United States has played in maintaining peace and 
     stability in our region, and in developing a political 
     resolution to the issue of Nagorno Karabagh. This is such an 
     important contribution toward putting our country on its 
     feet, that we can consider the United States to be a 
     participant in the establishment of Armenian statehood.
       A few moments ago, Senator McConnell pointed out that aid 
     to Armenia not only emanates from the interests of Armenia, 
     but also from the interests of the United States. This is 
     true. It is true because Armenia has the opportunity--of 
     course, with your help--to become a model--a model in terms 
     of democracy, a model in terms of the free market, and this 
     is the realization of the faith of the United States.
       In conclusion, I want to express my deep gratitude to each 
     and everyone of you. First, from day one, you have stood by 
     our government unconditionally, and I hope that we have not 
     let you down. I am sure that, hereafter in the same manner, 
     you will show the same faith and the same unconditional 
     spirit in standing by us--both in our difficult days and in 
     our bright future, which I am sure is going to come.
       I also want to emphasize the role of the Armenian 
     Assembly--headed by my friend, Hirair Hovnanian--in these 
     years of our independence. This is an opportunity to say that 
     you are the organization which has proven that it is 
     possible--without political ambitions--to help Armenia in a 
     much greater way than otherwise. And I think this should be a 
     model for the diaspora.
       In conclusion, I want to put aside this official mask for a 
     moment--I am a human being, after all--and say a few words of 
     appreciation to a man who, as a friend in our most difficult 
     times--in our coldest and darkest days--was with us, and was 
     also a key person in creating close relations between Armenia 
     and America. That was Harry Gilmore. Ambassador Gilmore set 
     such a serious foundation for relations between our countries 
     that, on the base of this foundation, Amb. Tomsen, who is now 
     in Yerevan, is continuing.
       I also want to express special thanks to the man who worked 
     the hardest and suffered most this evening, Amb. Edward 
     Djerejian.
       I feel an obligation to say that the honor you are giving 
     me this evening is your way of expressing your debt of honor 
     to our heroic people's patience and stamina. I would like to 
     see us all, together, keep the honor of our people high.
       Thank you.

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