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COMMENTARY: SARKOZY'S VISIT TO ARMENIA - A MESSAGE IN MANY DIRECTIONS
By Edmond Y. Azadian
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2011/10/13/commentary-sarkozy%E2%80%99s-visit-to-armenia-%E2%80%94-a-message-in-many-directions/
October 13, 2011 by Editor
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is a different kind of political
animal, capable of any and every controversial political move. During
his tenure as his country's interior minister, his harsh treatment
of France's Muslim immigrant population was severely criticized,
yet it helped to boost his popularity and catapult him to the office
of president. Equally controversial was his policy of packing up the
Roma people and shipping them to their countries of origin.
Less than a year ago, Mr. Sarkozy was offering warm accolades to
Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and today he is on the forefront of the NATO
bombing raids trying to unseat his erstwhile friend. Last week he
was on another mission to the Caucasus. He was on a whirlwind tour of
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. His longest stay in the region was in
Armenia, perhaps thanks to the diplomatic skills of Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian and Charles Aznavour, the latter accompanying him
on the trip. That, in itself, was a message to the region.
We have to remember that following the war between Russia and Georgia,
he was designated by the West to rush to Tbilisi in support of the
Georgian position.
He also conducted shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Tbilisi
to salvage whatever was possible in that relationship. Of course,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia could not be reintegrated back into the
Georgian territory, but the latter was solidly won for the West.
Today, the West has a strong strategic position in the Caucasus thanks
to Saakashvili.
Incidentally, Armenians have every reason to complain about the
Georgian government's policy with regard to the minorities, but the
West has touted it as a showcase of economic recovery for the rest
of the region to emulate if they wish prosperity. And contrary to
all adverse publicity, Mikheil Saakashvili has apparently stemmed
corruption overnight.
All these developments set the stage for the upcoming changes in the
Caucasus. Vladimir Putin's announced comeback in Russia, with its
anticipated strong-handed tactics for tighter control of the region,
make this spectacular visit to the region by a major world leader
seem like a pre-emptive strike by the West in order to make inroads
in the region.
The fact that Sarkozy spent more time in Armenia than in the other
Caucasus countries was a message to half a million Armenian voters in
France, who had been hurt more than once before by him. First, during
his presidential campaign he had promised to appoint Patrick Devedjian
the interior minister; instead, he named him the head of Sarkozy's
conservative Union for a Popular Movement Party, a rather powerless
post. The other offense by Sarkozy was his direct intervention in order
to stop in its tracks the Genocide Resolution, which was headed toward
approval by the French Senate, after sailing through the parliament.
Now comes the bittersweet comeback when Sarkozy, standing in the heart
of Yerevan, makes a spectacular statement about the Armenian Genocide,
of course without any reference to his earlier position. Indeed
a historic statement which is quoted below: "Collective negation
is a more serious problem than an individual problem, unless Turkey
follows the example of other great nations in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. Before year's end, France will take serious steps, including
the criminalization of Genocide denial."
He also evoked the historic ties between Armenians and France, which
had lent a helping hand to the survivors after the Genocide. Of course
it was not the opportune moment to remind him that France directly
contributed to the slaughter and expulsion of the Armenians when it
abandoned Cilicia, after drafting Armenians into the Armenian Legion
to be used as canon fodder during World War I.
Sarkozy also reiterated his position regarding Turkey's plans to join
the European Union: "My position has not changed in this case and will
not change. Situated in Asia Minor, Turkey has a great role to play
for France and for the world. Turkey is a bridge between Europe and
Asia. It has a great role but that role is not in the European Union."
He also made a reference to the intolerable policy of closed borders
in the 21st century.
Ankara has been angered by Sarkozy's statements and has decided
to lodge a protest through a special delegate. There is no word of
severed diplomatic relations or canceling arms contracts, which have
proven to be empty threats in the past. Of course, more current issues
on the table were lost in the media shuffle: the economic agreements,
France's interest in rehabbing the atomic energy plants, the Karabagh
issue and several others.
President Sarkozy certainly had his uphill re-election bid at home
on his mind when he planned this trip to the region, with rising
discontent about his economic policies.
By the same token, he has taken center stage in Europe, in cooperation
with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, trying to help the economies
of failing European countries.
Besides the euphoria he created in Armenia, Mr. Sarkozy's visit
certainly helped President Sargisian's election plans. A very uncertain
future reigns in Armenia regarding next year's parliamentary elections
and 2014 presidential election.
Thus, President Sarkozy's tour of the Caucasus, other than being
self-serving, sent many messages in many directions, of which Armenia
will be one of the beneficiaries.
From: A. Papazian
By Edmond Y. Azadian
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2011/10/13/commentary-sarkozy%E2%80%99s-visit-to-armenia-%E2%80%94-a-message-in-many-directions/
October 13, 2011 by Editor
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy is a different kind of political
animal, capable of any and every controversial political move. During
his tenure as his country's interior minister, his harsh treatment
of France's Muslim immigrant population was severely criticized,
yet it helped to boost his popularity and catapult him to the office
of president. Equally controversial was his policy of packing up the
Roma people and shipping them to their countries of origin.
Less than a year ago, Mr. Sarkozy was offering warm accolades to
Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and today he is on the forefront of the NATO
bombing raids trying to unseat his erstwhile friend. Last week he
was on another mission to the Caucasus. He was on a whirlwind tour of
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. His longest stay in the region was in
Armenia, perhaps thanks to the diplomatic skills of Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian and Charles Aznavour, the latter accompanying him
on the trip. That, in itself, was a message to the region.
We have to remember that following the war between Russia and Georgia,
he was designated by the West to rush to Tbilisi in support of the
Georgian position.
He also conducted shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Tbilisi
to salvage whatever was possible in that relationship. Of course,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia could not be reintegrated back into the
Georgian territory, but the latter was solidly won for the West.
Today, the West has a strong strategic position in the Caucasus thanks
to Saakashvili.
Incidentally, Armenians have every reason to complain about the
Georgian government's policy with regard to the minorities, but the
West has touted it as a showcase of economic recovery for the rest
of the region to emulate if they wish prosperity. And contrary to
all adverse publicity, Mikheil Saakashvili has apparently stemmed
corruption overnight.
All these developments set the stage for the upcoming changes in the
Caucasus. Vladimir Putin's announced comeback in Russia, with its
anticipated strong-handed tactics for tighter control of the region,
make this spectacular visit to the region by a major world leader
seem like a pre-emptive strike by the West in order to make inroads
in the region.
The fact that Sarkozy spent more time in Armenia than in the other
Caucasus countries was a message to half a million Armenian voters in
France, who had been hurt more than once before by him. First, during
his presidential campaign he had promised to appoint Patrick Devedjian
the interior minister; instead, he named him the head of Sarkozy's
conservative Union for a Popular Movement Party, a rather powerless
post. The other offense by Sarkozy was his direct intervention in order
to stop in its tracks the Genocide Resolution, which was headed toward
approval by the French Senate, after sailing through the parliament.
Now comes the bittersweet comeback when Sarkozy, standing in the heart
of Yerevan, makes a spectacular statement about the Armenian Genocide,
of course without any reference to his earlier position. Indeed
a historic statement which is quoted below: "Collective negation
is a more serious problem than an individual problem, unless Turkey
follows the example of other great nations in recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. Before year's end, France will take serious steps, including
the criminalization of Genocide denial."
He also evoked the historic ties between Armenians and France, which
had lent a helping hand to the survivors after the Genocide. Of course
it was not the opportune moment to remind him that France directly
contributed to the slaughter and expulsion of the Armenians when it
abandoned Cilicia, after drafting Armenians into the Armenian Legion
to be used as canon fodder during World War I.
Sarkozy also reiterated his position regarding Turkey's plans to join
the European Union: "My position has not changed in this case and will
not change. Situated in Asia Minor, Turkey has a great role to play
for France and for the world. Turkey is a bridge between Europe and
Asia. It has a great role but that role is not in the European Union."
He also made a reference to the intolerable policy of closed borders
in the 21st century.
Ankara has been angered by Sarkozy's statements and has decided
to lodge a protest through a special delegate. There is no word of
severed diplomatic relations or canceling arms contracts, which have
proven to be empty threats in the past. Of course, more current issues
on the table were lost in the media shuffle: the economic agreements,
France's interest in rehabbing the atomic energy plants, the Karabagh
issue and several others.
President Sarkozy certainly had his uphill re-election bid at home
on his mind when he planned this trip to the region, with rising
discontent about his economic policies.
By the same token, he has taken center stage in Europe, in cooperation
with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, trying to help the economies
of failing European countries.
Besides the euphoria he created in Armenia, Mr. Sarkozy's visit
certainly helped President Sargisian's election plans. A very uncertain
future reigns in Armenia regarding next year's parliamentary elections
and 2014 presidential election.
Thus, President Sarkozy's tour of the Caucasus, other than being
self-serving, sent many messages in many directions, of which Armenia
will be one of the beneficiaries.
From: A. Papazian