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France Has No First Lady For The First Time
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Saturday, 08 February 2014, 16:30
Interview with French Armenian entrepreneur Valery Ashkhen Gortsounian
Ashkhen, during his visit to Turkey Hollande called them to recognize
the genocide as a memory. In your opinion, was Hollande's statement
determined by his vows to the Armenians?
As a socialist president he is supposed to speak about it. Socialists
always try to display the right approach to historical issues but, on
the other hand, he was very diplomatic and did not utter the word
"genocide". He only said that we must remember and admit the history.
Before Hollande's visit to Turkey the Armenians of Paris, Marseilles
and Lyon held demonstrations, met with Hollande so he could not
altogether ignore the claims of Armenians. Besides, mayoral elections
are coming up, and the socialists will clash with the rightists.
Hence, the socialists cannot ignore the Armenian voters. This is real
politik.
In fact, now I try to be careful with my statements due to some
circumstances. First, if you remember, the Armenians were pledged a
law criminalizing the denial of the genocide but they did not do that.
I don't expect them to adopt the law. Besides, the ECHR dismissed the
decision of the Swiss court and the Turkish politician Dogu Perincek
who denied the genocide and was accused of racial discrimination was
acquitted. It is a surprise that the ECHR is, on the one hand, against
the recognition of the genocide, and the justification is that the
Turk has the right to express, think that there was no genocide.
Besides, Hollande did not use the word "genocide", he said they must
respect the memory. France is going to make a new law. I am worried
about the posture of the ECHR because here we know that everything is
linked to politics. We must be very strong to have Mr. Hollande to
keep his pledges. I have doubts that the Diaspora Armenians have the
strength for that, knowing well today's situation. If the Armenians of
the Diaspora had been strong enough and were aware of the importance,
the ECHR would never pass that decision.
Hollande's separation was on the world press for days. Did it affect
Hollande's image in France?
Here they say it is a cultural issue, men may do such things and
Hollande is not an exception. In France they don't like dealing with
other people's private life but it would not true to say that they
were indifferent. They spoke about it a lot. Besides, he was not
married with the first lady, he was the first president elected with a
status of single. It was something new to the French. He was silent
for 15 days, there was not an official statement whether that women,
Valerie Trierweiler, should stay with him or not. The media repeated
that Hollande had to make a decision because the French taxpayers
cover the expenses of that lady (she ran an office, a team).
Now, for the first time there are people who say that the president
with his behavior must be a good example for the public. Feminists
defended Valerie Trierweiler but on the whole the society does not
like her. Now France does not have a first lady and is considering
whether France needs to keep the institution of the first lady.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/31890#sthash.4Y8WRnnT.dpuf
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Saturday, 08 February 2014, 16:30
Interview with French Armenian entrepreneur Valery Ashkhen Gortsounian
Ashkhen, during his visit to Turkey Hollande called them to recognize
the genocide as a memory. In your opinion, was Hollande's statement
determined by his vows to the Armenians?
As a socialist president he is supposed to speak about it. Socialists
always try to display the right approach to historical issues but, on
the other hand, he was very diplomatic and did not utter the word
"genocide". He only said that we must remember and admit the history.
Before Hollande's visit to Turkey the Armenians of Paris, Marseilles
and Lyon held demonstrations, met with Hollande so he could not
altogether ignore the claims of Armenians. Besides, mayoral elections
are coming up, and the socialists will clash with the rightists.
Hence, the socialists cannot ignore the Armenian voters. This is real
politik.
In fact, now I try to be careful with my statements due to some
circumstances. First, if you remember, the Armenians were pledged a
law criminalizing the denial of the genocide but they did not do that.
I don't expect them to adopt the law. Besides, the ECHR dismissed the
decision of the Swiss court and the Turkish politician Dogu Perincek
who denied the genocide and was accused of racial discrimination was
acquitted. It is a surprise that the ECHR is, on the one hand, against
the recognition of the genocide, and the justification is that the
Turk has the right to express, think that there was no genocide.
Besides, Hollande did not use the word "genocide", he said they must
respect the memory. France is going to make a new law. I am worried
about the posture of the ECHR because here we know that everything is
linked to politics. We must be very strong to have Mr. Hollande to
keep his pledges. I have doubts that the Diaspora Armenians have the
strength for that, knowing well today's situation. If the Armenians of
the Diaspora had been strong enough and were aware of the importance,
the ECHR would never pass that decision.
Hollande's separation was on the world press for days. Did it affect
Hollande's image in France?
Here they say it is a cultural issue, men may do such things and
Hollande is not an exception. In France they don't like dealing with
other people's private life but it would not true to say that they
were indifferent. They spoke about it a lot. Besides, he was not
married with the first lady, he was the first president elected with a
status of single. It was something new to the French. He was silent
for 15 days, there was not an official statement whether that women,
Valerie Trierweiler, should stay with him or not. The media repeated
that Hollande had to make a decision because the French taxpayers
cover the expenses of that lady (she ran an office, a team).
Now, for the first time there are people who say that the president
with his behavior must be a good example for the public. Feminists
defended Valerie Trierweiler but on the whole the society does not
like her. Now France does not have a first lady and is considering
whether France needs to keep the institution of the first lady.
- See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/31890#sthash.4Y8WRnnT.dpuf