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security issue, is part of a squab- happening. I know that already
ble between local politicians and
elements that disserve Geneva.
What we can say is that, despite
everything, Geneva is a much
less violent city than many of
the larger cities, such as Rome,
Paris, New York, etc.
I think we should look at things
the way they are and compare
them to the rest of the world.
There are still challenges fa-
cing Geneva, including the high
cost of living. It is true that it is
expensive, but not necessarily
more expensive than elsewhere.
This is one aspect. Now there is
also a concern about housing,
but I think that the authorities
have undertaken co-ordina-
ted efforts with neighbouring
France so that people would be
able to find homes to buy and
let allowing them to find accom-
modation in good condition.
Q: There is a controversy
at the moment over the
Les Réverbères Project.
The Armenian community
wants to commemorate the
shared memory of Geneva
and the Armenians. What
is your opinion?
I am a member of the Parliamen-
tary Group Switzerland Armenia
and I think it is an excellent pro- such as peace, respect for other
ject. The Armenian community
will finance the work. Initially,
it was intended to locate a work
of art in the old town of Gene-
va. As it happened, there would
have been problems if we had
placed it in its original location.
Today they are carrying out an
archaeological dig on this very
spot. Given these difficulties, it
was decided to move the project
to a piece of land in the Ariana
Park owned by the city of Gene-
va. We must bring this project to
completion as soon as possible.
My only regret is that parts of
the Turkish community, even
the Swiss-Turkish, those pure
and hard karmalistes, are mobi-
lizing themselves to prevent this
If you have a message for
two to three years ago pressure them, what would it be?
had been put on the authorities.
Right now there are other pro- As an elected official in Geneva
tests. and in the Swiss Parliament,
and being very interested and
I think the mayor and the city involved in international diplo-
councillors must now demon- macy and International Geneva,
strate courage and firmness, and my concern is contact between
to stand by their convictions. I the international and the local
heard that there are problems community. My message is
because it would be too close to addressed to officials of inter-
the United Nations! I am sur- national organizations, diplo-
prised that anyone would think matic missions, NGOs and
that a memorial about the Arme- others: Make the effort to meet
nian Genocide -- comparable to the people of Geneva, because
a Holocaust Memorial or one to I am always asking the people
the victims of the Khmer Rouge of Geneva to discover the inter-
-- does not belong there. I think national community. I appre-
this is precisely the first role of ciate the efforts that have been
the United Nations -- to remind made by some organizations,
us about fundamental values especially the WTO, to open its
doors regularly to local people
people, and the struggle against so that they can discover what
racism and discrimination. Seen is happening behind its walls.
from a purely practical point of If embassies or missions orga-
view, I cannot understand an nized similar events open to
argument saying that it must the local population, it would
not be too close to the United be easier to get to know more
Nations. I hope this work of art about different countries. And
will attract many people. If the this would also make people feel
UN already hosts the internatio- good about the city.
nal tennis club on its premises,
why should anyone object to a I would like us to live in an
work of art on the fringes of UN integrated world, rather than a
on a piece of land that is the pro- segregated world. Today, there
perty of the city of Geneva? This is some interaction, but never-
should not be a major problem theless we live in two segre-
-- a memorial has a symbolic gated worlds. I would like them
value. to become more integrated. •
Q: Our readers are primarily
diplomats and "internationals".
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