Armeniaphobia is Becoming a Mindset: Serzh Sargsyan

The problems of intolerance and discrimination cannot be solved by statements, declarations or by expression of just goodwill, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan said during his speech delivered on May 26 at the Villa Empen Centre for Dialogue of East and West Cultures founded by Poghosyan Foundation that is headed by famous Armenian benefactors Janne and Albert Poghosyans.

“At the end of the 20th century the humanity witnessed a new and scary crime – the Genocide perpetrated in Ruanda. At first that genocide was perpetrated by word. We Armenians too have been obliged to pass through that path of suffering. But there were no radio or TV during Meds Yeghern, while the ideologists of the Rwandan Genocide spew their poison by using the modern means of communication,” said Sargsyan.

According to him the advocacy of hatred is not a way of freedom of speech.

“The Armenians too have recently been the target of such advocacy of hatred. When the leader of one of our neighboring countries speaks about expelling Armenians only because they are Armenians, I reluctantly remember what happened in 1915. But I cannot ignore what happened also in Ruanda, where such speeches were disseminated by radio and TV…,” said he.

“The Armeniaphobia is becoming a mindset, spreading it becomes a state policy. The Armeniaphobia is one of the most radical expressions of humanophobia,” said President Sargsyan.