Putin sacrificed Armenia, We must rely only on our own forces while seeking reliable allies - Leader of France Hunchakians

-Mr. Mardiryan, lately the French senate issues a resolution in favor of condemning the aggressive policies of Azerbaijan and calls for the recognition of Artsakh as an independent state, how do you see this development

I thank the French Senators who voted a resolution condemning dictator Aliyev on November 15, 2022 with a large majority (295 votes in favor out of 332 voters)!
Rarely have the parliamentarians of a country gone so far in their position.
Azerbaijan is called an aggressor and Turkey an accomplice. Gone are the days when aggressor and attacked were sent back-to-back!
This Senate resolution contrasts with the shameful position of NEUTRALITY of the “Quai d'Orsay”, the French Ministry of foreign affairs, and the complacent position of Ursala Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, for whom the life of an Armenian is worth less than that of a Ukrainian since Azeri gas would be cleaner, according to her, than Russian gas.
The senators' resolution even goes so far as to invite the United Nations Security Council to seize the International Criminal Court concerning the aggression of Azerbaijan on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, including to investigate the mass crimes and war crimes;
The resolution clearly demands the recognition by France of the Republic of Artsakh, only independence can guarantee the freedom and security of its Armenian population!
The resolution calls for the deployment of blue helmets and asks the French government to strengthen Armenia's defense capabilities in order to ensure its territorial integrity.
In other words, it is asking for arms for Armenia for its self-defense.

-Lately a lot of analysis suggest that France might be a from ally of Armenia, what is your opinion

I sincerely hope so, but objectively I do not see what interest France would have in implementing everything that the Senate resolution calls for.
The problem is that history has accustomed us to believing in the sincere words of France, but it has also accustomed us to abandoning ourselves to our fate.
We need deeds, not words, even if this represents significant diplomatic and moral support.

-How do you see Moscow policy towards Armenia?  it seems that during the past at least 3 and 4 years it fully adopts a position in favor of Azerbaijan

Moscow's game is unfolding day by day, it's hard not to see that Poutine sacrificed Armenia so he could fight his war in Ukraine.
One thing is certain, entrusting our national security to a single country will have been a serious mistake. We must draw all the consequences and rely only on our own forces while seeking reliable allies.
There will be a before and an after 2020 when it comes to Russian-Armenian relations.
 

-Can you tell us about the activities of the French Armenian community to help the French public
opinion well aware of the Artsakh conflict?

There is a group of individuals which was created spontaneously in France and which is active on social networks, this group has structured itself day by day, is very effective in terms of visibility, and is today a stain of oil in other European countries which takes example.
It is interesting to note this phenomenon does not emanate from traditional Armenian structures which are perhaps overtaken by the phenomenon of social networks, especially since it is now there that French and international public opinion is played out.

-What is the general opinion of the French public regarding the blockade of Lachin
The French media is just starting to talk about it, and it is thanks in particular to this mobilization on social networks.

-Can you tell us about the activities of the Social Democrat Hunchakian party in France ?
Like all pan-Armenian structures, the two main objectives of the Social Democrat HENTCHAKIAN Party are the preservation of Armenian identity in the Diaspora and support for Armenia. The existential threats posed by the dictatorships of Erdogan and Aliyev should call for a sacred union of Armenians around the Motherland, which unfortunately is not currently the case.
The Social Democrat HENTCHAKIAN Party in France, as elsewhere, supports the schools of the community, its church and participates in local political life in order to achieve its objectives.

-How do you you describe the Armenian-Armenian partisan relations in France ? 

Despite a facade of unity, I would say that there is no real exchange and collaboration between Armenian organizations as a whole, which is very damaging of course. We also find the same divisions in the Diaspora as those that exist in Armenia.

Social Democrat Hunchakian Party

Social Democrat Hunchag party - France

Social Democrat Hunchak party - France