Foreign Minister of Armenia speaks at Fletcher School

For Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, coming to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy on Wednesday night to deliver a speech on diplomatic relations was like any trip home. He came to see his loved ones and was welcomed by many interested students, old professors, his son, and other members of the Armenian community.

Oskanian holds degrees from the Tufts School of Engineering, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the Kennedy School of Harvard. His son, Ara Oskanian, is currently a freshman at Tufts.

Oskanian's speech, "The Effect of Great Power Politics on the Caucasus," gave an overview of the political and economic turmoil that Armenia endured over a decade ago and the progress the new state has seen in recent years.

"Armenia is an old nation, but a new state," Oskanian said. "I have been lucky to see the new state from its creation. The eleventh anniversary has marked amazing improvement for Armenians."

Oskanian's speech touched on the path Armenia took after its independence from the USSR and the Nagorno-Karabakh discord as well as the importance of cooperation without conflict for maintaining international relations. "Complementarity," or the ability for countries not to be equal but still retain relationships without favoritism, has been the underlying principle of the Armenian government.

Oskanian also praised democracy and the fact that Armenia will be the first beneficiary to reconcile United States and Iranian conflicts. "Mediators must resist the breaking up of states; they must also keep peace. Unfortunately, these two goals are not simultaneously achievable."

Unity, peace, and prosperity were the main points stressed by the Foreign Minister. The tenth anniversary of Armenia's independence coincided with Sept. 11, 2001. Although Oskanian made no mention of Sept. 11 during his speech, he implied that the solution he proposed was functional in the context of the tensions between the US and many Middle Eastern countries. This resolution of conflict is essential to peace between caucuses, he said.

The audience consisted mostly of middle-aged citizens from both the Tufts community and the Armenian-American community. The Dean of the Fletcher School, the Armenian Ambassador, and the Armenian Ambassador to France were also present. Cabot Auditorium reached its capacity with the Foreign Minister's party and several interested students from the Fletcher school.

After Mr. Oskanian was finished speaking the talk opened up to a heated question and answer session. "The speech was very eloquent. However, I couldn't tell who were the tougher questioners, the Diaspora (Armenian) audience or the Azerbaijan audience," said Sean Becker, a returning Fletcher student who was the first to ask the Minister for a response to the conflict.

There had been a bitter dispute between both groups after the assassination of the Armenian Prime Minister several years ago. Small traces of rivalry seemed evident during the discussion.

Ara Oskanian was pleased with his father's performance. "Coming to Tufts and following my father's footsteps has always been a lifelong dream," he said. "Last night's speech at the Fletcher School and my father's role in international relations not only made me proud to be an Oskanian but has also inspired me to go into diplomacy."

The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy has a longstanding relationship with Armenian society, having graduated both the Foreign Minister and 30 other diplomats to the country.

Oskanian continues his speaking tour at Yale today and Ann Arbor University this weekend. He will then return to Washington to give a formal briefing and soon after will return to Armenia. He will certainly visit Tufts again in the future, he said.

The event was sponsored by The Fletcher School's program in Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, with the help of Tufts Trustee Joyce Barsam and Fletcher Director of Publications Terry Ann Knopf