Ambassador Smbatyan: Definite statements on Azerbaijani lobby’s victory in Germany should not be made

One should not make definite statements to the effect that the Azerbaijani lobby is scoring a victory in Germany, Armenian Ambassador to Germany Ashot Smbatyan said today at a meeting with Armenian reporters at the Armenian embassy in Germany.

According to him, 80 events have been held in the Armenian community of Germany in 2015, with 75% of those events commemorating the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. 

“Azerbaijan organized quite a weak occasion related to the Khojaly events. It only seems that Azerbaijan conducts active propaganda. I never try to underestimate them – yes, the Azerbaijan side invests large amounts of money, and so on. But everything is quite different from what they portray,” the ambassador added.

In response to a remark that with financing of Azerbaijani embassy in Germany, a German scholar teaches the Azerbaijani language in Humboldt University of Berlin, Ambassador Smbatyan said that there is ‘Mesrob’ sub-department of Armenian studies at the famous University of Halle-Wittenberg.

“And the activities of that sub-department are funded by the German government,” the diplomat stressed adding that Armenian has been included in a list of protected languages and is given great attention.

“What is better? Financing the activities of a center for Armenian studies at a German university at the expense of our small resources or the allocation of funds by the German government for the development of Armenology?” the ambassador said.