As part of his pan-Armenian tour RA President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with representatives of Armenian communities and organizations of the U.S. West Coast and Latin America. The meeting took place at the Hilton hotel in Los Angeles on October 4.

The RA presidential press office informed NEWS.am that the Armenian President made an opening speech, dwelt on the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and major concerns. Serzh Sargsyan listened to the participants’ opinions answered their questions. The participants in the meeting welcomed the Armenian leader’s initiative to personally inform Diasporan representatives.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue, President Sargsyan pointed out that Armenia has been negotiating with Turkey since the moment it regained its independence. The negotiations have recently become public. As regards the Armenian-Turkish protocols, the Armenian leader said: “I am sure we have opportunities to conduct normal negotiations and have normal relations with Turkey, without sustaining any losses. Rather, we can derive benefits.”

The Armenian leader’s meeting with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) was followed by a dinner party, where Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech before several hundred Diasporan representatives. He said that the pain of losing love, families, and homes will be felt for centuries, and it is Turkey of the late 19th early 20th centuries that is responsible for such attributes of the noun “Armenian” as “American,” “French,” etc.. However, even now the Turkish side does not show any signs of regret. Moreover, it continues its Genocide denial policy, expecting the Armenians to “lower” their voice in the course of time. “Our pain is deep, and we cannot be broken in spirit. However, we lack something. Our mistrust of our own strength is a serious hindrance to us,” the Armenian leader said. Sargsyan added that both the attendees and all the Armenians are united round national dreams and Armenia’s destiny, which accounts for various assessments of the ongoing processes. The Armenian President also expressed the confidence that Armenia’s future will be the result of the people’s aspirations.