Aznavour says Armenia facing ‘Domestic Genocide’

By Asbarez | Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Charles Aznavour

YEREVAN (Yerkir Media)—World-renowned singer Charles Aznavour, who is also Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland and UNESCO made an unusual comment following a performance at the Kremlin Monday, saying that the current Armenian regime was committing “domestic Genocide.”

In an interview with “Life Showbiz” magazine, Aznavour lamented about the domestic socio-economic situation in Armenia and used the opportunity to blast the Armenian authorities.

“My country is now experiencing domestic genocide. I consider it to be politically unacceptable. “Not letting Armenia breathe, the government is depriving its own country of its youth, forcing them to leave. And in that respect, the issue has ceased to being only political, it has taken on a universal dimension. It has to be solved,” said the 87-year-old singer.

In another interview, this time with Rosiskaya Gazeta, Aznavour was asked about his experience as an ambassador. His response, half-jokingly was that his career was advancing successfully since “Armenia and Switzerland are not preparing for war.”

He also added that he did not like politics since that is not his calling.

“I like the arts,” he declared.

Yerkir Media asked the foreign ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan for a comment on the Armenian Ambassador’s remarks but was turned down.