On Wednesday, a delegation of officials and entrepreneurs from the Czech Republic, led by the country’s parliament speaker, arrived in Armenia, marking one of the highest-level visits to Yerevan from Prague in several years.
Ahead of the visit, CivilNet exchanged questions and answers with Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová on a wide range of topics, from blooming trade ties to the prospects for deeper involvement by the European Union. You can find CivilNet’s exclusive Q&A with Adamová below.
This is not your first visit to Yerevan, is it?
It’s not. I’ve been to Armenia in the past. In 2011, I worked as a volunteer in the Yerevan orphanage Zatik. Since then, Armenia has grown close to my heart, and I am glad that I can visit it as the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament.
During my volunteering, we engaged in various activities with the children from Zatik, ranging from sports games to theater. At the same time, we tried to improve the building they live in, so we painted part of it or painted the railings in the playground and garden. At that time, I also had the opportunity to get to know not only Yerevan itself, but also some other places, including ancient churches.
What is the purpose of your official visit to Armenia?
There has not been a high-level visit from the Czech Republic to Armenia for several years. Sure, ministers, MPs and senators visit Armenia, high-ranking state officials come here. Last year, Prime Minister Pashinyan paid an official visit to the Czech Republic. However, the highest officials of Czechia – and the post of speaker is the third highest post in the Czech Republic, according to the constitution – have not been to Armenia for several years. I am therefore pleased to be able to change this.
Official visits are meaningful in themselves. I am convinced that it is best when people talk directly to each other. Interpersonal contacts are the basis of mutual relations, from contacts between students, professionals from different fields and so-called ordinary people, to meetings at the highest political level. The importance of these contacts is even stronger now. Increasing political contacts, i.e., more visits to and from Armenia, is one of the tools for our political support to Armenia.
In Yerevan, I will meet all the country’s top leaders, i.e., the president, the speaker of the National Assembly and the prime minister. With each of them I will discuss specific political and other topics. In addition, I will visit the Armenian Historical Museum, where, together with Mr. Alen Simonyan, we will launch a new exhibition on Czech castles and chateaux. A memorandum of cooperation between the Armenian Historical Museum and the National Museum of the Czech Republic will also be signed in our presence. During my visit, I will also visit the TUMO Center.
Moreover, I will also go “on the ground,” so to speak. I will visit the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and participate in the EUMA (EU Mission in Armenia) observation patrol, which, by the way, is another concrete form of our support to Armenia.
A small group of business people, or representatives of Czech companies, came with me to Yerevan, mainly from the information technology sector. But in my delegation, there are also representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Chamber of Commerce, the main business association in the Czech Republic, who will hold separate meetings.
What does Armenia actually mean for the Czech Republic?
Armenia has traditionally been an important partner and ally for the Czech Republic, but also for the European Union. We share common values. Armenia is a democratic country that has long stood for cooperation. The fact that Armenia is the first Christian country in the world contributes to this closeness in values. Relations between Czechia and Armenia are friendly, and cooperation is developing successfully in many areas.
The Czech Republic is interested in Armenia and takes into account its specific geographical situation. It is in our interest to confirm our credibility with our Armenian partners – Czechia understands Armenia and can count on our support. Of course, it should be added that we also have some expectations.
Armenia is a priority country for Czechia in the so-called transition cooperation. We are financing a number of projects in Armenia, which this year will also be devoted to helping the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. We are passing on best practices to our Armenian friends in areas where we can provide expertise, such as reform of the judicial system, the environment, the fight against corruption, etc.
We also try to contribute to cooperation between journalists and independent media and to contacts between Czech and Armenian NGOs, as well as universities. My official delegation to Armenia therefore includes, for example, the Vice-Rector of Charles University, the largest university in the Czech Republic, and a representative of the Czech Technical University, which is, in turn, the largest Czech technical university.
Business and economic relations are also important. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the turnover of mutual trade, especially in terms of Czech exports. This is on a par with, for example, Chile or Indonesia and higher than to Argentina or Vietnam. We would like to deepen trade cooperation, especially with a focus on modern sectors. Concrete plans are set. For example, a group of Armenian companies will come to Prague in February.
How do you see the current situation of Armenia?
Armenia has been in a rather difficult geopolitical situation for a long time. The country is a bit between millstones, among other things, because of its traditional relationship with Russia, which is obviously undergoing a transformation. The security and foreign policy circumstances of the last few months have been very difficult for Armenia.
It is admirable how you have dealt with the sudden arrival of more than 100,000 Armenians from Karabakh. These are very sad human stories.
However, I would certainly not want to be pessimistic. On the contrary, I am convinced that an optimistic future awaits Armenia! I know that many things are changing in Armenia, too. The country is experiencing a building boom. New roads are being built. The economy is also changing. The government is trying and encouraging privatization, fighting corruption, investigating tax evasion, and generally improving the business environment. More and more Armenians are traveling, and more and more tourists are coming to Armenia.
Armenia would greatly benefit from calming the situation and peace in the region. That is why the Czech Republic so vehemently supports peace negotiations and the achievement of a sustainable and long-term peace agreement.
Do you think international partners are helping sufficiently?
Certainly, we also sometimes hear criticism from our Armenian partners. Armenia feels alone in its difficult situation. I have already heard from some Armenians that, for the international community, the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan is overshadowed by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the response is insufficient. They are certainly partly right, but at the same time, it should not be forgotten that Armenia has got into the complicated situation partly also because of its own decisions. That does not mean that we are going to leave you behind.
Is there room for more support?
Yes, undoubtedly. Within the European Union, we are now discussing concrete forms of enhanced cooperation between the EU and Armenia. These include political support, the provision of additional assistance in the security and defense spheres, the use of the full potential of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, as well as cooperation between ministries, universities, and cultural institutions.
As the EU, we should continue to develop our cooperation with Armenia within the framework of the Eastern Partnership policy, or in its new format, which is now being developed. From the Czech perspective, the Eastern Partnership is a promising instrument, not least because it was formally established in Prague. Despite our current emphasis on supporting Ukraine (and the other countries of the so-called Associated Trio, i.e., Moldova and Georgia), I consider it essential that the new Eastern Partnership policy be inclusive and that attention be paid to other partner countries, such as Armenia, in view of their level of interest in cooperation with the EU.
There is also room for deeper cooperation between the EU and Armenia in the post-Cold War reconstruction plan, which includes projects for Armenia.
In addition to supporting modernization projects and reforms, the EU can help Armenia in a way that Europe itself has traditionally always excelled at. Namely, credibility and predictability, but also the art of agreement, the ability to reach compromise and a sustainable solution despite deep differences.
As you are well aware, the EU, and in particular the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has been actively involved in mediating negotiations between the highest representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Several rounds of negotiations have already taken place, and not unsuccessfully. While Armenia would ideally need security guarantees from other “big players,” this is not very realistic at the moment. Therefore, the only sustainable peace can only come from direct negotiations and agreement between the two countries.
Last September, more than 100,000 of our fellow compatriots from Nagorno-Karabakh came to Armenia. Our foreign partners, including the Czech Republic, showed immediate solidarity. However, the future is uncertain. Any comment?
As I have already mentioned, this story contains, above all, a series of personal, human tragedies. I know that the Armenian government and state, as well as NGOs, are doing their best, and what has been achieved is truly admirable. The Czech Republic does not remain passive. In response to the events in Nagorno-Karabakh, Czechia has provided humanitarian aid to Armenia in the amount of almost 18 million Czech koruna (800,000 euros).
Part of the funds are going to projects originally run by the Czech organization People in Need, namely vouchers for wintering and equipping the households of people from Nagorno-Karabakh, basic equipment for farming, gardening, cooking, or baking, retraining with a view to obtaining new employment, etc. The aim of all these projects is to help as many Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians as possible to get back on their feet.
In addition, as an EU member, we are contributing 12 million euros in EU humanitarian aid to Armenia, as well as 15 million euros in development aid.
But financial assistance and support is not the only thing we do. As the Czech Republic, we place emphasis on ensuring the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians, including the right of return of displaced persons, and we speak out in favor of protecting their cultural heritage. We have expressed this position, among other things, by joining declarations adopted in support of Armenia at the Council of Europe, the Human Rights Council and UNESCO.
What are you looking forward to in Armenia?
I am looking forward to many things. To official meetings, to visiting the museum and to see a little bit of Yerevan. But if I’m being very honest, I’m particularly looking forward to returning to the places where I was almost 13 years ago. I’m curious to see how the places I remember have changed, and what else I’ll actually get to know. I also hope to reunite with at least some of the people I haven’t seen in so long.
I’m really excited to be in Armenia. And I would like Armenian women and men to know that we, Czechs, but also other Europeans, take them as members of our European family.
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