On March 3, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited Yerevan State University and participated in the academic session of the main university, during which he was bestowed with the title of Honorary Professor of the YSU. YSU Academic Council had approved the decision during its session held on February 11.

Presenting the award of Honorary Professor of YSU to Edward Nalbandian, YSU Rector Aram Simonyan mentioned that the Academic Council’s decision is based on the fertile activity of Minister Nalbandian in public and political life, achievements in the field of academia, effective cooperation with the YSU over the years.

Expressing gratitude for this prestigious academic title, Minister Nalbandian, particularly, said:

“Distinguished Mr. Simonyan,
Dear members of the Academic Council

I am grateful for your decision to award me with the title of Honorary Professor of the Yerevan State University. I consider this title as an assessment of our diplomatic service’s work, the service that protects the interests of our country and our citizens abroad, under the guidance of, and based on the foreign policy guidelines and assignments outlined by Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia, Chairman of the Yerevan State University Board of Trustees.

This title is obliging in terms of further strengthening of close cooperation, good traditions established between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University, Faculty of International Relations. The latter is a source of cadres for us. It is remarkable, that significant part of the students of Diplomatic School are alumni of the Faculties of International Relations, as well as History, Oriental Studies, Law and other.

You are aware that Armenia celebrates Diplomat’s Day. Regarding this, I would like to share with you some thoughts on diplomat’s mission, meaning of the Diplomat’s Day.”

Following the speech, Foreign Minister Nalbandian answered numerous questions raised by the members of Academic Council and the students.

Answering the question, “How would you assess Turkey’s Prime Minister’s statement that the Kurds, like previously the Armenian “gangs”, cooperate with the Russians and, thus, justifies the actions against the Kurds”, Foreign Minister of Armenia mentioned,

“Turkey’s Prime Minister overtly says that the hypothesis on the Armenian Genocide circulated by them in the past that as if there was a war, as if what happened to the Armenians should be seen through the logic of war, is fabricated. The official Ankara is publicly stating that the Armenian Genocide was in fact premeditated and pre-planned, substantiating that on the Armenians’ cooperation with the Russians. And today a similar threat is directed at the Kurds. This is a most serious alert for the international community as of what may happen as well to the Kurds.

The history of crimes against humanity has numerous common features. One of them is the dehumanization of the victim, labeling them as traitors and worthless. Persecution and killings of them are justified only according to the morbid imagination of the executioners.

“Armenians are those to bear responsibility first, who were pushed by Russia to fight us”, those are the words of the Turkish Prime Minister, but not of the turn of the 21st century, of Ahmed Davutoglu, but of the turn of the 20th century, those of Talaat Pasha, one of the chief masterminds behind the Armenian Genocide. Obviously during a hundred years not much has changed in Turkey’s ruling elite.

The words of prominent European figure turned into a proverb is relevant here: “A good opportunity to conceal the ��?pearls of wisdom’ was missed, yet again revealing what is hidden under the smiling masks.”