Armenian Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts is interviewed by Deseret Information Government Editor Doug Wilks on the information group’s workplaces in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 7, 2023. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Armenian Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts is interviewed by Deseret Information Government Editor Doug Wilks on the information group’s workplaces in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 7, 2023. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Armenian Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts seems over a duplicate of a classic press with Deseret Information Government Editor Doug Wilks on the newspaper’s workplaces in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 7, 2023. Wilks detailed the pioneer origins of Utah, the Deseret Information, highlighting a number of the shared values expressed by the ambassador. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
It'd take a little bit of time for a U.S. resident to search out Armenia on a map. This landlocked nation has Georgia to the north, Turkey to the west and Iran to the south. Its japanese border is with Azerbaijan, the place border conflicts and battles over territory have marked each previous and up to date historical past.
The Nagorno-Karabakh battle, named from the border area in dispute, has been sought by each Armenians and Azerbaijanis for many years, and most not too long ago erupted in violence once more in 2021. The seek for peace, then, is top-of-mind for these from Armenia, together with Lilit Makunts, the younger Armenian ambassador who earlier this month landed in Utah on the invitation of World Commerce Heart Utah to construct relationships and future alternative between Utah and Armenia, a rustic of about 3 million folks, much like Utah’s dimension, if not geography.
Makunts, 39, was born within the Armenian capital of Yerevan and from a younger age realized the worth of household, religion and the need of peace and independence. In a dialog with the Deseret Information, we explored the potential alternatives that exist for Utah and Armenia, and her personal story as a former minister and now ambassador, primarily based in Washington, D.C., till her time period ends.
This interview was performed in English and has been edited for size and readability.
Armenian Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts is interviewed by Deseret Information Government Editor Doug Wilks on the information group’s workplaces in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 7, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Deseret Information: What have been a number of the issues that you just really feel such as you have been capable of accomplish when you have been right here in Utah?
Ambassador Makunts: Nicely, my hope is that to begin with, we wished Armenia to be extra understandable — right this moment’s Armenia — to be extra comprehensible for Utah, and to attempt to discover one another since that is my first go to to Utah, to attempt to discover one another and what we are able to do collectively what we are able to do extra, as a result of there’s little or no that we're doing collectively. And we are able to do extra, be it training, science, financial system, financial partnership, or commerce partnership, or anything. So the ties must be strengthened. That’s my understanding. And even supposing now we have very small diaspora right here, I feel, nicely, they are often useful, too, by way of, , crystallizing these ties.
DN:My understanding is that Armenia is a rustic of about 3 million folks and you are attempting to construct your expertise sector. Do you see any alternative to tie with Utah’s expertise business?
AM: Completely. Nicely, the very first thing after we have been exploring Utah, the very first thing that we heard is that, , is Utah is the tech hub. And given the the ambition of the Republic of Armenia to develop that sphere in our nation, given the potential of the younger folks and the revolutionary potential. So we expect we have to go someplace with Utah with this, possibly beginning with training, possibly beginning with startups, but in addition going past that. So hopefully, by the point we plan the journey of the excessive tech minister to the US, (we hope we are going to) additionally be capable to convey the delegation to Utah and see what we are able to do collectively. ... That’s an thought. However we if we’re ever capable of take take commerce missions from Armenia to Utah, and vice versa, from Utah to Armenia, which doesn't essentially imply that we are able to accomplish issues immediately. However no less than beginning working in that course could be useful as nicely.
DN:Talking right here to an American viewers, are you able to inform us extra about what Armenia has to supply, what you convey to the world?
AM: So right this moment’s Armenia, regardless of the challenges, brings loads of hope and optimism. It’s due to the younger folks. It’s due to the dedication to develop the nation as a democratic nation. It’s due to our dedication and ambition to combat corruption. And it’s due to our ambition to be actually sovereign and unbiased democratic state. In order that’s one factor.
One other factor is, after I’m speaking about actually excessive diploma of optimism, that to begin with refers back to the younger era that get a extremely certified training. Most of them who determine to take training overseas, for instance, their bachelor’s or grasp’s diploma, they select Western nations. After which they convey that potential again to the nation. And that potential must be utilized.
Positively the capability that now we have, in a semi-blockade state of affairs, as a result of our nation is in a semi-blockade state of affairs, now we have shut borders with two of our neighbors, it is rather tough to make the most of that capability. And that is the place there's each a possibility for the nation to develop it, but in addition the chance for the companions, potential companions to develop stronger and mutually useful partnership. In order that’s the very first thing.
Armenian younger persons are very liable to expertise, excessive tech subject, they like working from their houses, they do work for lots of firms in the US residing within the Republic of Armenia, so why not attempt to try this, , to make use of that in a otherwise, and to create alternatives for them and for the nation. Additionally, , training is one other subject that we're very a lot centered on. The overwhelming majority of the Armenian inhabitants has increased training. And by seeing increased training, I imply, no less than a bachelor’s diploma. Younger girls are very a lot into training and into the banking and enterprise sphere as nicely. So there's one other potential there to discover.
And once more, innovation is one thing that we are able to concentrate on. Final Could, we launched the primary satellite tv for pc ever of the Republic of Armenia, which is a primary satellite tv for pc. However I feel ... we must always transfer in that course, and we want training and primary abilities, as nicely. In order that’s one other factor that we are able to do with Utah.
DN:You talked about younger folks a number of instances. You your self are fairly younger, and I’m positive have turn into a face of Armenia for the youthful generations. What are a number of the issues they speak to you about? Are there obstacles that they’re having to beat? Whether or not it's for training or for employment? What do you see that you could accomplish to assist that youthful era?
AM: Nicely, I come from the parliament to the US. So in my earlier job (as majority chief from 2019 to 2021), it was my accountability and obligation to speak extra to the folks to the voters to the residents of the republic.
I used to be again then attempting to discover what are the hardships of the folks, what sort of situations we must always create for the younger folks to remain within the nation and never to migrate. And one of many issues is how (to have interaction) training and work collectively. So how you can assist them to get training, however not deprive them of labor on the identical time, as a result of many of the work they'd be doing requires a full-time job. In order that they have to start out as nicely. And the training system of the Republic of Armenia is just a little bit completely different, that doesn’t enable them to be engaged in full-time working.
In order that’s that’s one of many issues and we made sure legislative amendments and adopted trusts that will enable them to get, for instance, a grasp’s diploma and in sure instructions in sure fields, and on the identical time work and pay their revenue tax. So the legislative invoice was concerning the following: We adopted a invoice which mentioned these college students who, for instance, learning excessive tech — sure topics — they will pay for his or her training from their revenue tax, and that helped them loads. And we additionally boosted sure fields and sure spheres that we expect which have nice potential or are underrated, underestimated.
One other factor was how you can help the younger households and help the demography of the nation, in order that they work, they've households, and nothing is completed on the expense of the opposite. So we launched different payments and different selections by the federal government, serving to financially with each start of the child. That was one time that's one time fee. On the identical time, assist with the medical insurance of all the youngsters within the nation on a regular basis. Younger folks within the nations ranging from the start until age 18, medical insurance, but in addition masking them and giving them a month-to-month stipend as much as age 8.
So these are the issues that we’re attempting to do. However most of them are social packages, let’s say this manner, in order that we assist them to not assume in that course. So to assist them with their skilled development.
DN: Ambassador, you’ve been concerned as a youth and really younger age in your nation. The place did you get your curiosity in politics and in serving to your nation?
AM: So when Armenia proclaimed its independence, virtually each household, each particular person within the Republic of Armenia was engaged within the independence motion. And my household too. And my father, too. I used to be very younger, I used to be a child, I didn’t perceive a lot of what was taking place. However I noticed how excited my household was. And I noticed my father with a blanket going to the Freedom Sq. to the Republic Sq., and supporting the independence motion. And we obtained that independence. So if I dig deeper, the place it began from it most likely began again then.
After which later, after I was a pupil on the college, I participated in my first ever youth motion, social motion, which was referred to as in the good thing about science and training. And that motion succeeded. And that motion received the trigger that it was preaching for. It was again then that I found out that, , by exercising your rights, and doing it in a peaceable method, it's attainable to realize success. And that’s what democracy is. So it was again then the pursuits that I obtained engaged in politics, and on the identical time doing academia and doing my Ph.D. (in cognitive linguistics).
So beginning in 2003, I used to be collaborating in principally all social and political actions. And that’s the place I do know the present administration, after which the federal government was a staff again then. So in 2018, the Velvet Revolution occurred, a nonviolent revolution, the everlasting authorities was shaped, the cupboard, it was for six months. And the prime minister supplied me to affix the cupboard and turn into the minister of tradition for six months. That was again then.
Certainly one of his main targets was to get rid of and eradicate corruption within the nation, which was, for my part, the essential motive for the nonviolent revolution. And that’s why he introduced in individuals who have been, who had zero expertise within the corruption. ... However that additionally meant that we had no expertise within the state authorities. So it was a development course of on the identical time rising course of.
And on the finish of 2018, we had snap elections. We obtained the 72% of votes. And I turned the bulk chief again then. By the best way, the it was the largest majority within the historical past of the Republic of Armenia. After which after the battle, the federal government and the prime minister determined that we have to have a political appointee in Washington, D.C. And after we had one other snap election, since you wish to make it possible for the folks need the present authorities to proceed the job. And when he obtained reelected, and the bulk occasion obtained reelected. Then I got here right here.
DN:And also you’ve been an envoy two years?
AM: Virtually two years.
DN:Our audiences are a reasonably devoted viewers, a Christian viewers, amongst others. Are you able to inform me just a little about Armenia’s religion group. Simply studying about its dedication to Christianity, the previous apostolic origins, are you able to speak to me concerning the religion of the folks, and, in the event you’re snug, even your personal upbringing in that religion, and what we'd study working along with that maybe as a basis?
AM: Positive, with pleasure. Nicely, we're recognized to be the primary nation that adopted Christianity formally. And we’re very pleased with that truth. We’re a conservative society. ... It’s attention-grabbing the way it’s attainable to be conservative and progressive on the identical time. However that is what you possibly can see in right this moment’s Armenia, and the way welcoming and various the Armenian society for the time being is. ... We cherish our values that now we have, we cherish the household values. Household is a very powerful factor for us.
If it weren’t for it, for our dedication to the household, dedication to the household, we wouldn’t most likely be capable to survive the best way we did. Positively the church performed a giant function on this. And that’s one of many issues I wish to underscore right here. As a result of the instances after we didn’t have independence, the instances after we, after we have been beneath assault, our id was preserved due to these, and as a consequence of these devoted folks and clergyman within the church that preserved our alphabet, preserved our literature that preserved our religion and id and tradition and traditions. In order that’s the place the historical past comes from. And we're, we’re very grateful for that.
The Structure separates the church from the state. So they don't rule the nation collectively. It’s solely the federal government that guidelines the nation. However now we have deep respect for the establishment of church for the explanations that I simply talked about. And even right this moment within the diaspora, I imply, again within the Republic of Armenia, it’s just a little bit completely different by way of the function, it’s extra concerning the religion. It’s extra concerning the values. And it’s extra about disseminating these values. Nevertheless, right here within the diaspora, the church nonetheless takes the function of retaining the id of reminding folks, reminding the Armenians who we're, the place we come from, and what our foremost objective is, what the primary mission is.
DN:How would you describe these values?
AM: Nicely, these values are about tolerance, are about persistence, are about humility, are about service, and are about resilience. However resilience not in a detrimental sense, however in essentially the most optimistic sense, the kindness. You understand, a few minutes in the past, we have been speaking about peace. I don’t wish to speak to about naming battle, I wish to speak about peace.
After the battle in 2020, each Azerbaijan had POWs within the Republic of Armenia, and we nonetheless have POWs in Azerbaijan, and again then we had much more POWs. So what we mentioned publicly — the federal government and we as folks — we mentioned, , humanitarian points are out of negotiations, humanitarian points shouldn't be handled, these points must be resolved. And for instance of that, we mentioned if we're speaking about that, if we expect that’s the fitting factor to do, we're going to do this first. And unconditionally, as a result of that’s that’s a matter of dignity for us. And as a matter of dignity of these people who find themselves beneath hostage, together with from Azerbaijan in Armenia.
We launched all of the POWs, all of them from the entire years, together with the 2020 battle, and we resolved all of the humanitarian points concerning the maps and thoughts maps that will save lives of the long run troopers serving from Azerbaijan. That’s what our values are. And, sadly, we didn’t get the entire POWs again and we nonetheless have 33 POWs confirmed additionally by Azerbaijan. However however that’s how I’m depicting what we consider in. And we expect that we have to present our personal instance. What humility is, what kindness is, or tolerance is, what persistence is with faithfulness and loyalty. And we’re a really loyal nation.
Armenian Ambassador to the US Lilit Makunts seems over a duplicate of a classic press with Deseret Information Government Editor Doug Wilks on the newspaper’s workplaces in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, April 7, 2023. Wilks detailed the pioneer origins of Utah, the Deseret Information, highlighting a number of the shared values expressed by the ambassador.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
DN:Do you will have a private religion that you just draw upon as you go about your work?
AM: Nicely, I'm Christian. And I’m a follower of Armenian Apostolic Church. And I speak about that with deep delight and respect. And the values that I spoke about, , life is in order that typically you may get distracted. However it’s essential to continually remind your self that, , these are the values that you could pursue every single day, together with throughout your work, together with through the instances once you simply can’t assist being that, however you however you need to pursue these values. And people are the instances that the church helps. And people are the instances that , getting collectively and sharing with one another, reminding one another about them concerning the values which are essential for all of us helps to be centered and never get distracted.