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The Armenian Reporter | April 25, 2009NationalEdward Djerejian: Armenia’s future depends ongood relations with neighborsRetired Ambassadordiscusses his life,his book, andrecent ArmeniadevelopmentsA leading expert on U.S. policy inthe Middle East, Edward Djerejianserved in the State Departmentfrom 1962 to 1994, receiving numerousawards and distinctions.His postings included ambassadorto Syria (1989–91) and Israel (1994),and he served as Assistant Secretaryof State for Near East Affairs(1991–93).After his retirement from theForeign Service, Amb. Djerejianbecame the founding director ofthe James Baker Institute forPublic Policy at Rice University inHouston. He has remained activein international affairs. In 1999 hespearheaded a mediating missionto Armenia and Azerbaijan thathelped launch talks between thepresidents of the two countries. In2003, at the request of the secretaryof state, he chaired an AdvisoryGroup on Public Diplomacy inthe Arab and Muslim World and in2006 he was a senior policy advisorto a bipartisan Iraq Study Group.His book Danger and Opportunity:An American Ambassador’sJourney through the Middle East wasreleased last September. He spokewith Washington editor EmilSanamyan on April 17.A child of refugees anda U.S. ambassadorArmenian Reporter: Looking backat your career, what would you sayhas been the recipe for your successas an American diplomat?Edward Djerejian: A great dealof perseverance and hard work, beingmotivated by serving our country.I think public service is a veryworthy endeavor in life. I alwaysfelt it was a privilege to representthe United States of America bothabroad and in Washington withvarious foreign governments.And I also think it is a tributeto our country that the Americandream of accepting immigrantsfrom all over the world and assimilatingthem to our society andgiving them equal opportunities toachieve what they wish to achieveis a rather unique model.In my book, I recounted [telling]my own family story to then PresidentHafez al-Asad when I justbegan my posting as ambassadorto Syria.“After a brief exchange of pleasantriesover Arabic coffee andsweets, Asad noted my Armenianname and asked me about my familyorigins. I recounted how, asyoungsters, my father and motherhad escaped the Turkish massacresduring the 1915–18 period,when the Young Turk governmentwas pursuing its genocidal policyagainst Armenians, and how theyfled to Syria, where they were givenrefuge.“My mother’s father, a police officialin the Armenian town of Kharpout,was executed, and her mothersucceeded in bringing her and hersisters to Aleppo, in northern Syria,for a short period, then took themto the coastal town of Jbeil (Byblos)in Lebanon, where there wasa Danish orphanage for Armenianyoung girls.“In his upper teens, my father escapedthe ‘Death March’ that forcedArmenians to travel on foot fromtheir homes in eastern Turkey tothe Syrian Desert town of Deir az-Zor, an ordeal during which hundredsof thousands died” (Dangerand Opportunity, pp. 84–85).Mr. Djerejian’s parents eventuallymade their way to the United Stateswhere they started a family. EdwardDjerejian was born in New York Cityin 1939. And 70 years after his parentscame to Syria as refugees, he wasnominated to be U.S. ambassador inthe same country.ED: I think this [family story] issymbolic of much of what Americais about.Denied assignments inAnkara and MoscowAR: While there are equal opportunitiesin U.S. public service forindividuals of various backgrounds,outside the United States ethnicand other biases are still a norm.Did your background ever deny youan opportunity abroad as an ambassadorto a particular country oran envoy on a specific issue?ED: It is true that as a memberof a minority group I had to worka little harder in order to competeand if you will make the grade andcome up the career ladder. But thatis probably true of all ethnic Americansthat have to break new ground– you just have to work harder atthe beginning to establish yourself.When I came into the Servicein early 1960s, I don’t think therewere any ethnic Armenians in theForeign Service. But I didn’t feelany discrimination per se.The only assignment denied tome was being assigned to [the U.S.Embassy in] Turkey, because I wasan Armenian and the State Departmentthought that could causeproblems with the Turkish government.Once, I got a call and was asked ifI had any objections to being addedto a list of potential nominees forambassador to Turkey. I said absolutelynot, but also that I didn’tthink it was going to happen.Also, I was on the list to be ambassadorto Russia. And that becamea case study of where my nominationdid not go through because Iwas Armenian.President George Bush-41 andSecretary of State Jim Baker nominatedme to be the ambassador toSoviet Union. It was 1991 and thatwas the time of the break-up of theSoviet Union.Word came back from the lastforeign minister of the USSR,Aleksandr Bessmertnykh, thatalthough the Soviet governmentwould be very pleased with Djerejianbeing nominated and that therewas no ad hominem objection, therewas a problem coming from [thenstill Soviet] Azerbaijan. The Azeris’objection was that having an Armenian-Americancould be prejudicialfor their interests and therefore thenomination was not forwarded.And as a result, I was appointedassistant secretary in charge ofMiddle East policy, and we endedup going to Washington instead ofMoscow.Karabakh missionAR: How did the February 1999mission come about with you andAmbassador Peter Rosenblatt goingto Armenia and Azerbaijan?ED: That was an initiative thatI took as director of the Baker Institute,where we have a conflictresolution forum. And we havedone track-II projects, includingIsraeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian tracks, which we continueto do.At that point the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was quite on theagenda. And I thought we couldprovide a track-II dimension to theofficial talks that were on and off. Iestablished a small team, and Amb.Rosenblatt was on the team andserved very well. I even had my sonGregory Djerejian serve as a rapporteurfor our talks and a coupleof other people.We had the assistance of Robert(Vache) Manoukian, a very wellknownbusinessman in London,and very involved in Armenianissues. He was going to Armeniaat the time in any case and verygraciously offered his plane for usto do shuttle diplomacy betweenBaku and Yerevan, which we did. Itwould have been near impossible todo the same on commercial planesflying between Baku, Moscow, andYerevan.In the end, we were able to narrowsome of the issues and presentthem to the two governments aswell as the U.S., the Europeans, andthe Turks. I don’t want to exaggeratethe importance of what we did,but I think it was useful.We never went back because theOSCE Minsk Group work picked upsince then. But I did a lot of workwith the State Department advisingboth Secretary Madeleine Albrightand Secretary Colin Powellon the situation in subsequentyears.There was a terrible missed opportunityin 2001. Secretary Powellcalled me at one point and saidthat we have a window where President[George W.] Bush and I canget involved to get the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations moving forward.And that was about the timeof the meeting [between Armenianand Azerbaijani presidents] in KeyWest, Florida.So I called our contacts to urgethem to be as positive as possible.What I stressed to them is that it isnot often when an American presidentis ready to focus on Armenian-Azeri relations and Nagorno-Karabakh. That it was a pricelessopportunity to take advantage of.Amb. EdwardDjerejianUnfortunately, that opportunitywas squandered.AR: Did President Heydar Aliyevhave an issue with you as anArmenian-American mediating?ED: I don’t think so. I think theywere a bit surprised over the initiativeI took. And one of the Azeriofficials said in Baku that we arevery impressed with the fact thatnot only that you came to Baku andthat you also brought your son.These gestures in diplomacy cansometimes be very important.Talks with Turkey“really hold promise”AR: What is your sense of negotiationsunderway today?ED: As you know the high-leveltalks between presidents of Armeniaand Azerbaijan continue. Andthere these extremely importanttalks between the governments ofArmenia and Turkey, which reallyhold promise right now. And it issomething that I absolutely encourage.I have been promoting Armenian-Turkish reconciliation for yearsand working behind the sceneswith both sides to encourage this.And over the last year I have seensome real progress. I met with [Armenian]Foreign Minister EdwardNalbandian in London – that wasmonths ago – and that was the firstindication that I got that somethingserious was afoot.We had some track-II talks withthe Turks and Armenians on reconciliationissues. But now it is reallyupfront at the highest levels of bothgovernments. And that is really theway to go to deal with the borderopening and the genocide issue ina context of enhanced relations betweenTurkey and Armenia.AR: How would you assess theskill level of Armenian diplomacyover the past decade and a half?Are there any ups and downs thatyou could identify?ED: I have seen the ArmenianForeign Ministry evolve over theyears. It needed serious training ofits diplomats. It needed serious reorganizationand obviously neededto have the full support of whoeverwas the president of Armenia.Over the last few years I haveseen the improvement in capabilityof the Armenian Foreign Service.And we had the activism offoreign ministers. We have hadtwo [activist] foreign ministers,Vartan Oskanian and now Nalbandian.I have to say that there isnow professionalism that I had notseen before and the ability to thinkoutside the box and not just play topolitical constituencies, Armenianor foreign.Armenia has begun to take amore defining role in foreign policyissues that are really critical to thefuture of Armenia. Be it with Azerbaijan,Turkey, Russia, the UnitedStates, France, or other powers, Ithink now the Armenians have begunto play their hand much moreskillfully and effectively.I have met both President SergeSargsian and Minister Nalbandianand I think they understand thatArmenia has a lot of assets. Eventhough it is a small state and relativelyweaker in relation to someof its neighbors like Turkey or Russia,Armenia is a state that sits atcrossroads.Armenia is a Christian nation,and should Turkey normalize itsrelations with Armenia, that wouldreally enhance its chances to enterthe European Union.If peaceful relations are establishedwith Azerbaijan and Turkey,you could see some of the pipelinesrouted through Armenia as well.Also, Armenia has a strong relationshipwith the United States becauseof the very vibrant and activeArmenian-American community.Armenia has been supported byboth Democratic and Republicanadministrations and is deservingof U.S. support.Armenia does have a lot of problems.It needs to reform internally,build up its economy, get rid ofcorruption, and make the politicalexperimentation with democracymore real.But once the strategic alignmentaround Armenia is improved, particularlyvis-à-vis Azerbaijan andTurkey, Armenia can look forwardto a bright future.AR: Say the Turkish and Azerbaijanigovernments, for whateverreason, decline to establish relationswith Armenia. What is theformula for survival in a state ofcontinuing confrontation?ED: That would be a very serioussetback for Armenia and all countriesof the region, including Turkeyand Azerbaijan. But that wouldonly be one failed effort. Everyonewould have to re-assess the situationand see how they could pick upthe pieces again.I don’t see any way forward otherthan state to state relations betweenArmenia and Turkey and Armeniaand Azerbaijan. If talks fail, we’ll justbe wasting time and the populationsContinued on page m
The Armenian Reporter | April 25, 2009InternationalBerge Setrakian underscores AGBU’s dedication tohomeland-Diaspora symbiosisNEW YORK – On March 22, 2009,AGBU President Berge Setrakianarrived in Yerevan for discussionswith Armenia’s leaders on thechallenges faced by the Armenianpeople and issues pertaining tohomeland-diaspora relations, inlight of new international, regionaland Armenian community realities,as well as to follow up on, give newimpetus to, and bring into focusthe goals of AGBU’s programs in thehomeland.In the course of this visit, Mr. Setrakianmet with Karekin II, Catholicosof All Armenians, SergeSargsian, President of the Republicof Armenia, Tigran Sarkisian,Prime Minister of Armenia, HovikAbrahamian, Speaker of the NationalAssembly, Hranush Hakobyan,Diaspora Minister, EdwardNalbandian, Minister of ForeignAffairs, and Spartak Seyranian,Minister of Education, accompaniedby members of the AGBU CentralBoard of Directors Vasken Yacoubianand Yervant Zorian, theVice Chairman of the AGBU SCDCHaig Messerlian, and the directorsof the AGBU RepresentativeOffice in Armenia.At his March 23 meeting withthe Ms. Hakobyan, Mr. Setrakianstressed the necessity of adoptinga strategy that goes beyondtraditional approaches and organizations,taking the new diasporanrealities into consideration. Astrategy based on a clear analysisof priorities that address the interestsof young diasporan Armenianswho are not involved or feeldistanced from traditional Armeniancommunity life. During themeeting, Ms. Hakobyan expressedher satisfaction about the productiveactivities being carried out byAGBU in both the homeland andthe diaspora. She also presenteda brief overview of the ministry’sprograms for maintaining nationalidentity and bringing Armenianstogether, along with programs adoptedby the Armenian presidentand government to foster cooperationbetween Armenia and Armeniancommunities around theworld.Mr. Setrakian acknowledged theimportance of the activities of theDiaspora Ministry, wherein the balancedmerger of civil society andgovernmental approaches will inevitablylead to anticipated results.Special emphasis was placed on programsdeveloped by AGBU in recentyears that provide social and academicexperiences to diasporan Armenianyouth in Armenia, in light ofthe potential these programs havein raising awareness and cultivatinga sense of national identity.Following this meeting, Mr. Setrakianmet with Mr. Seyranian,Armenia’s Minister of Educationand Science. During the meeting,issues of mutual interest were discussed,especially those pertainingto AGBU’s educational programs,and particularly the soon-to-belaunchedAGBU Virtual College.Through the application of thelatest information technology, thisnew AGBU initiative creates opportunitiesfor individuals scatteredall over the world to access creditbearingand in-depth informationon topics of Armenian language,history, and culture.The same day, Armenian PrimeMinister Tigran Sarkisian receivedMr. Setrakian and Mr. Yacoubian ofthe AGBU Central Board. Mr. Sarkisianexpressed thanks to AGBU andits leader personally, adding thathe was satisfied with the courseof the implementation of projectsunderway by AGBU. Mr. Setrakianstated that through its projects inthe homeland, AGBU is engaged inthe task of connecting membersof the young diasporan Armeniangenerations to their national rootsand inspiring them with the realityof the homeland. He expressed theconviction that while the impact oftraditional organizations and theiractivities has weakened in the diaspora,and the new generation is distancingitself from Armenian lifeand gradually losing the language,Armenia remains the only strongfoothold that can inspire and energizethe youth and ignite in theman interest and pride in their identityand heritage.On March 24, Mr. Setrakian andMr. Yacoubian were received bySpeaker Abrahamian. The Speakerhighly praised AGBU’s activity in Armeniaand welcomed the programsaimed at acquainting the youth withnational traditions, culture and history,while strengthening their tieswith the homeland. Mr. Setrakianunderlined AGBU’s commitment tocontinue its extensive programs inthe homeland despite the internationalfinancial and economic crisis.He noted AGBU’s vision of buildinga contemporary center in Yerevanfor young Armenian specialists andintellectuals, endowed with all thenecessary resources.Later on, Mr. Setrakian and Mr.Yacoubian had a meeting with ForeignMinister Nalbandian and theydiscussed supporting Armenia’sforeign policy, defending Armenianrights and assisting Armeniandiplomatic missions abroad.The same day, Karekin II receivedMr. Setrakian at the MotherSee of Holy Etchmiadzin. Duringthe meeting, Mr. Setrakianunderscored the important role ofthe Armenian Church and clergyin the spiritual and national life ofthe Armenian people, pointing outBerge Setrakian in Yerevan.Prime Minister with Vasken Yacoubian and Berge Setrakian.the necessity of putting the priorityof that role above other issues.On March 25, the opening ofthe new building of the sportsand cultural center took place inthe Nubarashen district of Yerevan.In cooperation with theWorld Bank and Armenian SocialInvestment Fund, AGBU helpedrealize the Nubarashen Sportsand Cultural Center by underwritingmore than 55 percent ofthe overall cost. In response tojournalists’ questions, Mr. Setrakianexpressed joy for the openingof such a building in the communityfounded by Boghos Nubar,which can be considered apayment of respect for the memoryof AGBU’s founder. Participatingin the opening ceremonywere Mr. Setrakian, AGBU CentralBoard of Directors membersMr. Yacoubian and Mr. Zorian,World Bank Executive DirectorEdward Djerejian: Armenia’s future depends on goodrelations with neighborsn Continued from page in these countries would suffer. Andwe can never rule out prospects ofanother war with Azerbaijan.But why waste more time, whenparameters of a settlement betweenArmenia and Azerbaijan andbetween Armenia and Turkey arepretty well defined.Genocide affirmationAR: Over the years, many Armenian-Americansmust have askedyou about what to do to have ourgovernment take a clear standon the Armenian Genocide andsend an unambiguous message toTurkey. Why you think that campaignhas been unable to achieveits stated goal over the last 30-plus years?ED: The reasons are geopoliticalin terms of U.S. interests inthe broader Middle East region.Turkey is a major NATO ally. It is asecular state with majority Muslimpopulation. There are manygeopolitical assets that Turkeyoffers to the United States andtherefore every administration,Democratic or Republican, hasbeen hesitant to alienate theTurkish government on the genocideissue.That has been a clear factor in thereluctance of American presidentsand administrations to come outand call it genocide.We Armenians can be frustratedover the fact that the word isnot used specifically. But for yearsI have been saying that the onlyway this issue is going to be resolvedis through state-to-staterelations between Armenia andTurkey.The issue is not just about theuse of the word but about dealingwith the genocide issue in asustainable manner. That is whyI am bolstered by the latest newsfrom Armenia. [Ed. Note: the conversationtook place before the April22 joint statement by Armenia, Switzerland,and Turkey.]fBerge Setrakian with President Serge Sargsian.Rudolf Yan Trefers, ArmenianSocial Investment Fund DirectorAshot Kirakosian, Nubarashencommunity leader Mher Hovhannisian,colleagues of thecommunity administrative center,and prominent communityfigures.The same day, Mr. Setrakianand other AGBU leaders attendedan awards ceremony for the Yerevanfinals of the Yerevan RepublicanInterscholastic ChessOlympiad. For the second yearin a row, AGBU is sponsoring theinterscholastic chess Olympiad,together with Armenia’s Ministryof Education and Science andthe Chess Academy of Armenia.The sponsorship of the interscholasticchess Olympiad is one ofAGBU’s newest youth programsand it is designed to generate interestin chess and identify futuretalents, through whom Armeniacan maintain its standingas a frontrunner in internationalchess competitions.In the evening of the same day,President Sargsian received Mr. Setrakian.During their meeting, Mr.Sargsian expressed high appreciationfor AGBU’s activity in Armeniaand the diaspora for the benefit ofthe nation and preservation of theArmenian identity. He also hailedthe organization’s new programs inArmenia.Mr. Setrakian, in turn, briefedthe Armenian president on AGBU’supcoming programs. They spokeabout preserving the diaspora’spotential, rallying diasporan Armeniansaround national goals andmaintaining the Armenian identity.During their meeting, Mr. Sargsianand Mr. Setrakian exchanged opinionsabout certain national issuesof political significance.On the evening of March 25, Mr.Setrakian and the members of theCentral Board of Directors had ameeting with the staff of the AGBUArmenian Virtual College (AVC),to assess the work being done inthe various developmental aspectsof the program. AVC has alreadylaunched a pilot version of theirinitiative which is open to the publicfor review and feedback at www.avc-agbu.org.Established in 1906, the ArmenianGeneral Benevolent Union(AGBU) is the world’s largest nonprofitArmenian organization.Headquartered in New York City,AGBU (www.agbu.org) preservesand promotes the Armenianidentity and heritage througheducational, cultural and humanitarianprograms, annually servingsome 400,000 Armenians in35 countries. f
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