We trusted Putin's Russia, See where that got us - Hunchakian French branch Chairman

Saro Mardiryan - Chairman of the Armenian Social Democrat Hunchagian Party French Branch - Deputy Mayor of Alfortville at Ville d’Alfortville

-How do you evaluate the latest intervention of Paris in the Transcaucasia (Անդրկովկաս) region, do you find the french position fair and objective, and friendly to the Armenian righteous point of view ?

You are referring to the decision to sell weapons by France to Armenia. This is obviously a positive development in France's foreign policy and it is a turning point in the search for new alliances by Pashinyan's government. Everyone knows that Russia does not ensure the security of Armenians, worse, Russia bears a responsibility that should be determined in the various Turkish-Azerbaijani military aggressions against the Republic of Artsakh and against the Republic of Armenia since 2020. The time will come when we will have to seriously consider this issue, but in the immediate future, the urgency for the Republic of Armenia is to develop new strategic alliances. The West, and France in the first place, are among the serious options available to us, and I am personally convinced that the process of integrating Armenia into the European Union, stopped dead in its tracks by Putin in September 2013, will continue its way. It is therefore entirely logical to me that the Europeans and Westerners support Arménia militarily as they do for Ukraine.

-How do you evaluate the role of the French Armenian community, in this matter ?

The Armenians of France played absolutely no role in this rapprochement between France and Armenia. As an Armenian from France and being very committed to the defense of Armenian national interests, I can tell you that if France helps us, it is because it converges with its own interests. First, France supports Ukraine militarily against Russia, and it is therefore logical for Westerners to occupy the ground left behind, voluntarily or involuntarily, by Russia in the countries of the former USSR which want to join the European Union. This is the case of Ukraine and Georgia. Then, there are other issues linked to Turkey, and in particular in the Mediterranean basin where new gas fields have been found. Greece, Israel and Cyprus have concluded cooperation agreements, isolating Turkey which is also seeking partnerships, with Libya among others, to thwart this alliance and have a piece of the pie. France supports Greece militarily, and this is how tensions have risen in recent years between France and Turkey. However, Turkey's two neighbors are Armenia to the east and Greece to the west. Armenia is, in spite of itself obviously, a barrier to pan-Turkism, and Europe has every interest in supporting Armenia from this point of view.

-Do you find the french policies in this area reliable and trustworthy ?

We trusted Putin's Russia, did he really give us a choice? See where that got us. We must succeed in understanding geopolitical dynamics and take advantage of them. For each of our decisions, we must ask ourselves the question of what we gain and what we lose, and a fair assessment of the regional and strategic interests of each power is essential. I am convinced that the new strategic partnership between France and Armenia is in line with the Armenian national interest, its territorial integrity and its sovereignty. We must therefore develop this partnership as much as possible and move to a European scale. This is the path taken, I believe and I hope, by Pashinyan's government, which has succeeded in developing a relationship of trust with President Macron.
 
-Social Democrat Hunchakian Party role lately in Alfortville ?

The Social Democrat HENTCHAKIAN party, of which I have the honor of chairing the French branch, represents the diversity of the Armenian community within the municipal council of the city of Alfortville. Armenian communities are rich in their diversity wherever they are, and this is what I defend with pride!