In recent months, as heated debates raged on the Armenia-Turkey protocols, Diaspora Armenians reacted with frustration and anger at the damage these agreements would have caused to Armenian national interests.
While Armenia’s leaders have the right to take decisions on behalf of the country’s 3 million inhabitants, they also have an obligation to take into account the interests of all 10 million Armenians worldwide on pan-Armenian issues, such as the genocide, the Artsakh (Karabagh) conflict, and demands from Turkey.
In negotiating the Armenia-Turkey protocols, Armenian officials should have shown more sensitivity to critical national issues. By signing the contested agreements with Turkey, they alarmed and deeply hurt Armenians worldwide. Thousands of angry demonstrators reacted by hurling vitriolic epithets at President Sarkisian during his October tour of the Diaspora to promote the protocols. Such confrontations, unprecedented during earlier presidential visits, reflected negatively on the authorities as well as the protesting public.
A small land-locked state faced with blockade, war, economic hardships, and enemies on both sides, can ill afford internal divisions and conflicts with its diaspora. Such discord can only please Turkish leaders who have made no secret of their scheme to split Armenia from “the radical diaspora,” thus making it easier for them to extract concessions on Artsakh, genocide recognition, and demands for restitution.
What lessons Armenians must now draw from the disheartening experience of infighting over the protocols?
1) Armenia’s leaders should exercise greater caution and sensitivity by engaging in private consultations with diasporan leaders prior to conducting negotiations and signing agreements on issues that impact the entire Armenian nation.
2) A diaspora-wide leadership must be elected to reflect properly the views of the majority of Armenians on crucial issues. Such a mechanism would facilitate the transmission of credible feedback from the diaspora to Armenia’s leaders and to governments and international organizations. Further details will be presented on this important topic in a future column.
3) Diaspora Armenians should not let disagreements with Armenia’s leadership discourage them from extending aid to the needy, making investments in the country’s economy, and visiting the homeland.
4) In addition to avoiding a split between the diaspora and Armenia, it is equally important to prevent serious divisions among diaspora organizations without stifling the healthy exchange of views and disagreements.
5) The Armenian president needs to receive expert advice on critical economic and political issues which necessitates the creation of a Council of Economic Advisors and a Council on Foreign Relations, consisting of internationally recognized experts. Furthermore, a team of international lawyers should be assembled to advise the president prior to signing international agreements in order to avoid fundamental mistakes which subsequently may have to be corrected by the Constitutional Court.
6) The Armenian government should have assigned the Diaspora Ministry to serve as an unfettered channel of communication between Armenia and the diaspora during the debates on the protocols. The Ministry could have been the mechanism through which the concerns and complaints of Armenians worldwide were relayed to the Foreign Ministry and the president’s office. After all, the Diaspora Ministry is supposed to be a bridge between the two segments of the Armenian nation. While it is true that the diaspora minister accompanied the president during his tour of several countries last October, the Ministry would have gained far more credibility had it been allowed to play a more independent role.
7) Armenian officials must realize that Turkey, given its size and strategic location, has a greater opportunity to get its views publicized through the international media than it is possible for Armenia. Therefore, any issue on which Armenians and Turks have conflicting interpretations, the Turkish version will prevail by being more widely disseminated than the Armenian point of view. That is one of the reasons why agreeing to establish a “historical commission” was not a good idea. According to Turkish officials, the commission was to review the facts of the Armenian Genocide, while the Armenian leaders stated that its objective was to assess the consequences of the genocide. Had the protocols been ratified, the Turks would have proceeded to deny the facts of the genocide and would have succeeded in blaming Armenians for undermining “the good work” of the commission.
8) The protocols, rather than helping to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey, have in fact greatly damaged the prospects of such reconciliation. Future attempts must begin with the preliminary steps of opening the border and establishing diplomatic relations rather than cramming dozens of unrelated issues and preconditions into a single agreement. True reconciliation has to be based on truth and justice, not lies and cover ups.
Harut Sassounian
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If Diasporan Armenians wish to have a significant say in the affairs of this country they should come and live here.Period.No argument.Thats called democracy!!
Thank you Harut. All of your recommendations are constructive.However one of the most critical lessons that cannot be ignored in addition to those you have listed above, is for us Diasporan’s to never underestimate the importance of democratic reform and its necessary evolution in a country like Armenia.The Diaspora must be much less accommodating with Armenian officials who turn a blind eye to issues of corruption, transparency, human rights, accountability and the rule of law.
Armenian-Americans and Armenians worldwide should by now identify that the **US State Department** which attempted to divide Armenians by forcing a TARC (Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Committee) few years ago; is the same **US State Department** that failed to fool Armenians with its latest attempt to force Armenia to accept the Protocols.
And, this is the same **US State Department** that is actively blocking recognition of the Armenian genocide in the US Congress; and the very same **US State Department** that has tacitly supported Turkey’s hostile blockade for 17-years; and finally this is the same **US State Department** that has all along exerted hostile diplomatic pressure and arm twisting a tiny land locked nation of 3 million.
Armenian-Americans should reject Obama’s proposed $40 million US “Aid” (corruption money) and send a message back to the **US State Department** that complicity in genocide denial is not acceptable; tacitly supporting Turkey’s hostile blockade for the past 17 years was not acceptable; and coercing Armenia to capitulate on a TARC or Protocols will not work.
“A Diaspora-wide leadership must be elected to reflect properly the views of the majority of Armenians on crucial issues. Such a mechanism would facilitate the transmission of credible feedback from the Diaspora to Armenia’s leaders and to governments and international organizations. Further details will be presented on this important topic in a future column.”
Planning to run for office Mr. Sassounian? ;)
This sounds extremely difficult. Who would monitor the elections? Would we have to negotiate with the Armenian government in terms of what role this new elected person will play? How do you decided who can vote? And what if foreign entities like the CIA, KGB, MI6, or the Armenian Assembly decide to get involved?
This is a silly proposition by Mr. Sassounian on many levels. Firstly, it is being assumed here that the diaspora actually knows what it’s doing, which is silly. The diaspora can’t even administer itself, and it thinks it is qualified to give Armenia any advice? And as my favorite Levonakan stated above, this proposal will also quickly run into serious obstacles, such foreign agents maneuvering to have a representation within such a body… After all, isn’t that the current case with the ARF and Armenian Assembly (penetrated by the CIA) and the Armenian government (penetrated by the FSB)? Finally, officials in Armenia must be responsible only for their citizens. What if a certain policy conflicts with diasporan desires, as in the current case with the so-called protocol? Officials in Yerevan, as well as many sane Armenians today, believe that the protocol can potentially lead to Armenia’s progress and development. What gives the genocide obsessed minds in the diaspora (a vast majority of whom could careless about the republic) the right to demand anything?
Let’s all realize that the diaspora is a dead end, and that is a best case scenario. Some of you yahoos make it seem as if the Armenian diaspora has been around for centuries. The fact is, the Armenian diaspora is not even a hundred years old and it is already dying. I don’t consider the vibrant Armenian community of Iran a real diaspora because it is close to Armenia both physically and spiritually, but even they are gradually diminishing. Had it not been for the influx of Middle Eastern and former Soviet Armenians the diaspora in the West would have been dead a long time ago. While it exists the diaspora’s one and only task is to – unconditionally – support the homeland. None of your complaints about Armenia or excuses about why the diaspora does not do this or that are acceptable in this discussion. The fact of the matter is Armenia today is surviving, as it has for the past two hundreds years, as a result of its native population’s strenght and perseverance as well as its close ties with Russia. In the big global picture, compared to what the diaspora could have done for Armenia it has done next to nothing. If you see yourself as an Armenian living in the diaspora, you have one priority in life: to have a spiritual/physical connection to the Armenian homeland, regardless of how much the homeland and/or its people may disgust you. If you live in the diapora and do not have, and more importantly, do not seek a physical connection to the homeland you would be better of assimilating as soon as possible. The Armenian nation does not need and can do without such individuals.
While diasporan Armenians should enjoy full rights in their ancestral homeland no diasporan Armenian has the right to demand or expect anything from the Armenian government – if he/she is not ready to live in Armenia. After it is all said and done realize that the Armenian population in Armenia will have to live with the consequences of government policy – not you in the diaspora. The Armenian state will not be and cannot be the diaspora’s laboratory experiment.
Hey Henry, Mr. Sassounian’s weekly columns already properly reflect
the views of the majority of Diaspora Armenians on crucial issues so
if he were in fact elected to such a body his insight would be credible
and his experience invaluable. He would be an integral member of any
such group that’s for sure. RA officials would be better informed
about the Diaspora if they just read his columns more closely.
Charles, I see your point. However, with the same token, the Armenian government cannot give itself the right or liberty to decide for the Diasporan Armenians the fate of lost lands, property and grievances in the Western Armenian lands where most of the Diasporan Armenians come from.
We are all right and we are all wrong, because we are all bringing onto the table the different perspectives and experiences of a people torn apart by war and Genocide. We now have to work together on the very difficult but unavoidable task of creating a common experience that will unite us. To do this, we have to come up with a well defined and thought of system that allows for an inclusive dialogue between the intellectuals, lawyers, historians, professionals of Armenia and the Diaspora that unveil and address all the international facets of our complicated existence as Armenians, so that the decision we come up with on important matters involving our homeland and our people are done transparently and with the unequivocal welfare of our people in mind. If for one second, I as a Diasporan believed that opening the borders will result in Turkey conducting a fair study of the Genocide and acknowledging it like Germany acknowledged the Holocaust, and that Turkey will actually start consuming Armenian goods and allow the Armenian economy to take flight, I and most of the Armenian people would have put aside our feelings regarding Turkey and have welcomed the protocols with open arms. However, after all the hardships and lies that have festered our history, we need to be weary and recognize a poisoned apple especially when the culprits of the past are describing it as heavenly and are pushing us to take a bite. All of this would have been avoided, if the dishonestly crafted protocols were not agreed on by the leaders of the Armenian government. For the good of Armenia and the Armenian people, the protocols should have only said that the borders will reopen and diplomatic ties will resume between the two countries. The historical commission, the legality of the borders etc…. all dishonest traps and preconditions that the Armenian government should have never agreed to.
Dear arut,
Not oly do I read your columns,but also I watch you on USArmenia “interviews”Splendid both.
Like I have said before you are our ex-officio spokesman.Now than w/ref. to your above article.
t is quite clear that you also feel and point out to the vacuum that the Diaspora has.There is no such a thing as Leadership per se.If the present Spiritutal and political parties are referred to as such,just read what a Mr. Hakob Vartivarian has publiczed on a few Armenian web forums re the unfrtunate fiasco by one of our politicfal arties…
However, if a TRUE Leadership is what you imply, then that can ONLY BE ATTAINED BY PARTICIPATION AD REPRESENTATION.No, not by just present above referred to, with all due resect to the.For I am not one that does not appreciate wat they have achieved so far,albeit this one or similar mentioned fiascos.We ought to be thankful ad greatfull to them BUT WE NEEDE ORE MUCH MORE>
BOTH HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC POWER OF THE DIASPRA RESIDES IN MORE THAN A 100,000 ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE(NON-PARTISAN AD LEFT TO DRIFT AWAY0.THESE ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR NATIONAHOOD ACTORS/ACTIVISTS. Namely-5 of them already formed and on the scene .1.The Heath -Medical,2.The Engineers &Scieces3.THE BAR,The sportive and the Jewellers(latter ought to enlap, furishings ande furnitures.10 moreto be foremed:- Below I shall number them.These can be further developed in each Armenian dense Township or district, say L.A. with its surrounding areas, S.Francisco ,Marseilles, Beirut, Paris, Lyon B-Aires etcf., In each of said hubs the aforementioned “Colleagues Associations” wll eect from amongst themselves-regardless of pertinency and in fact including dual pertinency(of exisiting above ) with only one difference that partisan p[ropaganda ought not to be allowed within the “Professioal Colleagues Associations0 That they can do in their circles.
From Each of these (16 fields of professions) ,aside from their boardsAS NOVELTY-Only 3 person Delegates would be elected, as ther ELITE to a CEntral Council,admitting within the 3 person delegates officaly from our 3/4 Political arties and one each from our 3 Spiritual Denominations-by the by, all these I have many a time over described in my web page-now under re-costruction as well as it was omn the official Page of the Minsitry of the RA Foreign Affars ,aong with half dozen others for 4.5 yeaqrs (Armeniadiaspora.com ) now discontinued…
Then from each Community country(Gaghout one each from the 16 fields(the 3 are in rotative format, each serving one year stits) 16 reps. would form the said Com.country CENTRAL COUNCIL \The mechanism will continue, delegating ther delegates to Diasora’s SUPREME COUNCIL, which , I have over 30 yrs worked on, will have 5 Departments .
1.The Legal-Political in Strasbourg(alongside,not necessarily sitting ex0 to the RA Delegate, but in town..
2,The Economic Supreme in Geneva CH(with 16 offices of the said professional fields)Als God willing striving ard to establish by the se good people the’NATIONAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND”
3.The EXECUTIVE IN N.Y. -NEXT TO RA OF U.N. REPRESENTATIVE
4.THE Social Services and Repatriation organizing Supreme in Moscow…
5.The Spiritual in St. Etchmiadzin in conjunction wth the Great ouse of Cilicia..
All 5 Supreme Councl Deartments in constant contact -with contemporary means of communcation- and all oter Community country Central Councils.
Once we ave accomplised such a re-organized Structure (fool-proof) indeed drawing on our HUMAN RESOURCES AND…WAT IS MORE THEIR INPUT FOR CREATING A NATIONAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND.latter “suggested’ that to begin with a NUCLEUS of it ought to be created by our 5/6 magnates with important investments,say each a few hundred million dolalrs, hopefully srpassing the Billion dollars working capital, next the over a hundred millionares in ther turn and thus downward to the
$1000.00 investors..
Monies accumulated under the direct control ad sgnature of said magnates and/or their reps.wuld encourage nation-wide PARTICIPATION.Indeed main actors being the 100,000 and over “Professional Colleagues..
I have treid to explain in short format the idea of trying hard to having REAL PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION.Nowere in my articles/Bulletins have even come near to hrt feelings of our hitherto existing-and I hope coninued efforts- of our future so far existing and added to similar organization..for the Armenian mindset is such that aways new ones come up.I respect them.But if we do aspire to be a Diaspora with STRUCTURES HITHERTO UNKNOWN, then I humbly reiterate my above sheme.
It is there for the taking.Or if contested to ,I am here to expand further on above theses/scheme,formulae-whatever further details are requred- to our dear compatriots.
Hama Haigagani SIRO,ad
E.&.O excepted,Please forgive me I type fast..
presented by
Gaytzag Palandjian
Bravo Berj; I am in total agreement with you. I am so appaled by the way the U.S. State Department take Armenia and Armenians for nothing and no value, it is truly criminal. I am disgusted how they arm-twisted and continue to do so with our government officials to accept the illegal “protocols’ that is against Armenia’s sovereignty. For 95 years they don’t want to accept the fact that an Armenian Genocide happened? What kind of democratically fair country they project to the world and to us Armenians? I don’t know, but the U.S. State Dept. has been very cruel to Armenians and to our little landlocked newly formed Armenia of 3 million population. They are very unjust, very cruel and very appaling to all of us.
This is all an absurdity. Armenia’s leadership did the right thing by signing the protocols with no preconditions. It’s Turkey that’s backing off and trying to adjust the road map – just as most Armenians knew they would. It puts egg on the face of the western powers who so vehemently wanted this document. So now what? Will Armenia’s so called friends try and undo the constitutional court’s decision on the genocide? We Armenians did not fall into any trap. Who’s embarrassed now?
The United States State Department calls a diaspora conference with Secretary Clinton and and shuts out one of Armenia’s largest advocacy groups. Isn’t that the same scenario that’s occurring with Turkey? Preconditons? What’s with all these preconditions? Who are these people trying to fool anyway. Not us Armenians!
Avetis,
Assuming you live in the Diaspora — wouldn’t it then be your duty to support the will of the people in Armenia, and thus, the HAK? Are you still hanging on to the bit that the protestors were a crazy deranged 20% minority? Funny how you said the Diaspora has no idea what’s going on in Armenia. You seem to be the case in point.
Yes my fast talkin’ used Levon salesman, anyone that supports that filthy 1990s gang is either utterly naive (ignorant of the world around them), hopelessly crazed or a criminal. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think you are crazed or a criminal… You see, and you thought I didn’t like you.
Fortunately, I spend enough time in Armenia every year, time with real Armenians, to know that Levonakans are nothing but a vociferous minority. Realize that everything you and I hate about our republic today have their roots in his administration. As bad as they may be, Sargsyan and Kocharyan are several heads above your Levonik. I would hate to think just how much worst Armenia would have been had Levonik not been forced out of office. And guess what, I’m not a Dashnaktsakan either. Anyway, don’t bother trying to get into a debate with me on this topic, I’m not going to waste my time debating the very obvious.
And I am not going to explain to you what my relationship is with my homeland. Just know that When it comes to political, historical and military matters I know what I’m talking about, and I have been around the block quite a few times. You are barely out your front door on a tricycle. Anyway, I know you mean well and I know that you have the potential to be intelligent. I suggest you be humble, observant and more importantly read and learn from what I write.
Henry jan, another thing I forgot to mention in my previous post: You are mistakenly thinking that I believe in the idea of “democracy”, the absurd notion that the ignorant masses can effectively rule themselves. When you get older and wiser one day you may realize that “democracy” is just as flawed and unnatural as Bolshevism. Just think Henry, we are required to get a higher education, good vocational training and/or a government issued license for doing practically anything of value in the civilized world… So why is it that the most important task of electing a nation’s officials is expected to be handed over to the masses? When this is practiced in developing/third world nations it usually ends up in chaos. The world has always been ruled by a financial/political elite, and it is no exception today. Do you know how the elite in advanced nations of the world, namely in the West, gets around this dilemma? By having politicians on both sides of the fence work for them. Whoever wins, the elite wins. Do you get it? So when you see a Clinton or a Bush or an Obama or whoever they are going to appoint next in the White House realize that he or she is ultimately responsible not to the people – but to the financial/political elite (also known as oligarchs in former Soviet states) that made it all possible for them.
Sorry to ruin your little party, but your favorite US president is nothing but a spokesperson for financial/political elite in this country, and he was appointed by them to run for the presidency six years ago at the closing of the democrat convention in 2004. It would have been the same story if McCain had won the elections…
ADENDUM (TO MY ABOVE POST)
Dear All,
Firstly I beg pardon for so hastily and badly wriiten above post of mine.I repeat I am a fast typer with pleanty typographical errors.But do bear with me please.
IN THE FORMATION OF THE 3-PERSON DELEGATES I FORGOT TO MENTION THE ESSENTIAL ,WHICH IS :-
Each of the democratically elected has to ostentate ,rather unite ONE OF THE THREE BELOW MERITS, in order to be elected by fellow Colleagues Associates.
1. One ,most advanced in his /her profession ,i.e., as example.(amongst, say the Health /edical Group,elected by all others for his /her achievments in said Profession.
2.One most advanced in his/her capacity of being culturally(National/International0 most advanced and a politicized person.
3.One that has in his/her spare time-besides being a physitiomn-as example- invested his/her earnings in whether property,funds/business, such as establishing his/her own Clinic,thus Financally mst advanced.
Each of above ,Thus compliments the other two.By the by THERE IS NO ANY OTHER MERIT of importance as such,thence those elected as Deelegates of a given rofession represent actually ELECTED FOR THEIR WORTH. Not haphazardly…as has been the cdase so far -like say campaigning by spending funds to have one elected himself/herself by spending monies… or for that matter by the politico elected by comrades,having followers of an ideology…WITH ALL RESPECT TO THEM,but we now should think /contemplate in presenting those above mentioned as well, since these good people also have a RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AD ELECT THEIR PREFERRED REPRESENTATIVES TO THE NATIONAL AFFAIRS ARENA..
AND TO BE SURE, THEY DO ,RATHER CAN MUSTER CLOUT ONCE THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THESE SO FAR NEGLECTED HUGE COLLECTIVITIES GET A CHANCE TO ARTICIPATE AND REPRESENT IN AN ORDERLY FASHION AND FOR THER MERITS..
As one can see,so far very clearly the politico ave taken centre stage not only in diaspora, but also in the Homeland as well.By campaignings and/or taking to the streets and delivering discourses to the people at large(composed mainly of those who are not in the advanced professioally Groupings..who can indeed steer the aforemetioned more properly and have them follow a TREND SO FAR UNKNOWN T THEM.THAT OF THE 16 FIELDS OF THE PROFESSIONS.Our dear politial parties used to call these non-participating people …now well advanced in the following professionscalling them “silent majority’ NO MORE, I hope…
Rest of the Fields in which the diasporan Armenian and also Homeland’s are by far a COLLECTIVITY-if grouped together- and can come to sit alongside the poltico and Spiritual fathers…
I mention now the remaining fioelds herebelow.
6.The Banking & Finance,
7.Travel & Transport, 8.Industries & mines.8.Communications IT.9.The Press/Adevertising.10Food & catering.11.Agricultural Field.12 Enironmetal & Forestry.13.Education & Culture.14. The Construction Field(Architects et a relatedl. Another tw that now does not come to mind have repeatedly written about these. Indeed yesteryear’s telegraphist is now AN IT EXPERT, the userper a Financial & banking expert…this goes on with all above professions.
Believe it or not the great majority of Armenians have registered tremendous advances in all above and then some..
Who says the non-politico are A SILENT MAJORITY?
GIVEN THE CHANCE-GROUPING INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS THEY CDAN SHOW THE OTHERS WHAT THEY CAN DO.WHAT IS MRE THEY ARE THE MAJORITY AND REPRESENT HUMAN RESOURCES AND INDEED THE Y ARE CAPABLE OF RE-UNITING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE DIASPORA IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MODE…
THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE SO, MAY GO ON DOING S ,BUT IN FRANCE THE”GROUPEMENT INTERPROFESSIONAL ARMENIEN-WHEN I JOINED THEM SOME 16/17 YEARS AGO WERE A TOTAL OF 50/60 PEOPLE..NOW OVER 600 .But again not harnessed so to speak to A MECHANISM THAT CAN THROUGHOUT THE DIASPORA COUNTREIS BECOME A F O R C E ..to sum up
WE can either go beating around the bush and come up with new establishments not LINKED AS ABOVE OFFERED’/SUGGESTED OR STRIVE FOR THE SUPER-STRUCTURE THAT AS YET CAN BE CREATED/BUILT….
With Best Regars to A ll,
and
Hama Haigagani SIRO,
Gaytzag alandjian
The US State Department, State of Israel, and England form the axis-of-genocide-denial. –
The eyes of the World focused on Armenia immediately after the Russian-Georgian war of August 2008. – Why? – Because, the West (primarily the US State Department, UK, and the EU) deemed Georgia unreliable and unstable as a transit route for Central Asian gas (Turkmenistan) & oil (Kazakhstan) . – Russia would not allow Georgia under any circumstance to join NATO or the EU, as that would provide the West an alternative to Russian gas & oil dependency; and it would seriously weaken Russian leverage and influence over the West. – What does this have to do with Armenia and Protocols? (Everything) – The US State Department views Armenia as the most direct and viable route from Europe-across Turkey-via Armenia- and on to Azerbaijan and the Caspian basin gas & oil fields. – Neither Azerbaijan (nor the Caspian basin) can export its gas & oil to the West; neither Turkey can serve as the energy corridor between Europe and central Asia as envisaged by the US State Department. So, no open border, no gas & oil. –
In addition to Armenia’s geo-strategic importance to the West and Russia; Armenia is strategic to Iran as well. It provides Iran with a direct route to Europe (independent of Turkey). Iran’s interest in building a highway, railway, gas and oil pipelines, Tabriz-Yerevan-Batumi, provides the shortest direct route for import and export to the West.
Avetis,
You have validated what I have long suspected of people who support Kocharyan and Sargsyan.
Avetis jan, another thing — we really must visit two very different Armenias. All you seem to do on this board and Asbarez is go around asking people to take a “course on geopolitics,” remind Armenians of how “stupid” people they are, and rephrase all that nonsense you read at the Jamestown Foundation’s website (which, if anybody is interested in knowing, is a discredited think tank that blames everything on Russia — from the black plague to the fall of Rome — and thus gives it more power than it might deserve. Most of its rank and file are neocons and or ex-Soviet dissidents [i.e. from Georgia] who have some complex against Russians). And to top it off, you offer us some “personal experience” — “been around the block,” “spiritual connection with the homeland,” etc, as if that is somehow suppose to accept your severely flawed analysis and understanding of Armenian politics. There are many Fidayis have more of the “been around the blocks” and “spiritual connection to homelands” sort of backgrounds who disagree with you (in fact, I don’t know any are sympathetic to what you’re saying). You know — if you rely on people who “take a course on geopolitics” to understand what is going on — you must be a very confused person. Many international relations experts, both in Armenia and the U.S., including many former foreign ministry officials who I assume have a lot to bring to the table, oppose the protocols in very basic geopolitical terms. Does Vartan Oskanian, foreign minister for 10 years, need to take a “course on geopolitics,” or Raffia Hovhanissian? Or Alexander Arzoumian? (That was quite a bipartisan group wasn’t it?).
But I guess you’re right, an unelected president signing a historic deal with our genocidal neighbor without any transparency in a European city, in a locked room with Turks and Americans is a good thing.
Explain to me again why a man who wins 52% of the vote is having problems getting a rally together?
Anyway, I hope you can realize yourself that you’re a waste of time. (I’ll be sure to take a course on geopolitics…just in case you decide to reply).
Avetis, are you a bittter old man?
Paul, are you a young simpleton? If it helps you, I’m middle aged. And I am bitter (more like disappointed and frustrated) at all the ignorant, hysterical, genocide obsessed, paranoid, irrational and/or big talking hypocritical Armenians I see everywhere. I grew up thinking that Armenians are brave, honest, intellectual and wise… Now do you see where my disappointment stems from? However, instead of making a fool of yourself why don’t you deal with the content of my comments…
Sadly Above commenets between two or three or even all, is very typical of an Armenian Forum.No one stops to think that in order to occupy a POSITION ONE HAS TO BE ELECTED BY MAJORITY…
Here on this forum or on others, the situation is the same,albeit on some non-Armenians also participating.
Thence, what the Administrator ,-understandable a partisan- or a Govt. one(RA0 reads all psts, skipping or or tw or more ,admitting only those that best suit the purporse of a “BABYLONIAN” OR “ARSHAGAVAN” MODE-SYSTEM..
INDEED STICKING ONLY TO THEIR PARTY line,dogma.With all respect to them all, whether ARF,Ramgavaragan or S.Demo Hunchagians..they miss one IMPORTANT ISSUE, that by keeping this present Armenian status quo “Arshagavan” like…the ARE NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT OF THE 100,000 Armenians who OCCUPY “PROFFESSIONAL” POSTIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS(ABOVE NMBERED BY SELF) WO can ideed muster up clout, BOTH HUMAN-RESOURCES-WISE AND then create by themselves the ECONOMIC POWER OF THE DIASPOR(S).SO BE IT..
CARRY ON THIS WAY UNTILL ONE DAY YOU WILL FEEL/SEE THAT OUR HUGE COLLECTIVITIES THAT ARE LEFT TO DRIFT AWAY-NAMELY THE NON-PARTISANS ,and then ..some day themselves feel that they are getting weaker and weaker…
Thus paving the way for complete capitulation or partial capitulation, above all to our adversaries and also our Homeland BBB’s (Bishops Bosses and Benefactors or oligarks whatever …who ENJOY SEEING THE DIASPORA in this un-enviable situation and indeed taking advantage of the BBB (their supporters giving them both economic icentive as well as moral..since the GREAT MAJORITY ,i.e. the 100,000 strong PCA’s are driven further away from ational Affairs Arena.
May God help this miserable un-organized Armenian Diaspora(s)…
Hama Haigagani SIRO
Gaytxzag Palandjian
Well said Gaitzag
When I look at some posts here and on other Armenian portals, my heart sinks low. Armenians for some unknown reasons never try to find a common ground. It is either the left or the right, nothing in between. And this sad reality gives our eternal enemy, the turks, more power, more incentives and more opportunities to divide and conquer.
The whole Kurdish nation is looking up to the young Armenian republic and the Armenian diaspora for signs of unity but find none. And who benefits from this chaos? None other than the turks.
We all envy Jews and the state of Israel for their rock solid unity, but we never learn from them. That’s why Armenia and Armenians need a new national leader, a second Tigranes II, who would unite all Armenians and make Armenia the most beautiful and the most envied nation on earth.
Ferhat
Ferhat, when you (and others like you here that share your false belief) grow up someday you may realize that internal divisions and problems found amongst Jews are far worst than those found with us Armenians. International Jewry and the Zionist State are held together by two powerful factors –
1) an old Western group of billionaires and trillionaires, like the Rothchilds, who have intimate contacts with the Western world’s most powerful policy makers…
2) an institutional instinctual fear/distrust/hate of non-Jews that comes from thousands of years of being persecuted everywhere and everyone -…
Comparing a small, poor and dispersed nation like us Armenians to a major religious/financial group that is firmly based in the most wealthy states of the West is like comparing apples to falafel.
Avetis
To succeed in our times and in this international arena, you need to move and act prudent. Armenia, as the smallest country in the Caucasus, with only 3 million people, and with an army of 10,500 (excluding the additional 30K stand by reserves) Cannot afford to be divided. Remember, a house divided will fall faster then a house united.
Why do you think turks are successful on the international arena, whereas Armenia(ians) and the rest of us Kurds, Greeks etc are not? Simple: turks are seasoned politicians, Armenia being a young nation, lacks that particular political savvyness that turks possess. Plus Armenias 101 plus political parties don’t help much either.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not accusing nor belittleing anyone here. As a friend to the Armenian people, and as someone who spend years learning your language and history, someone who has visited Armenia, someone who admires Armenian architecture, and someone who know everything about the Genocide, it hurts me seeing Armenians divided in a small country. That spells DANGER.
Yes, you might point out our situation. My people not only are divided along political lines, but we are divided along tribal lines too. That is the ONLY reason we don’t have a country, and trust me it is a herculean job to teach one people divided along tribal lines. But since Armenia has achieved its independance, don’t have any tribal issues like we do, therefore you have absolutely no room for mistakes which might spell disaster for Armenia.
That’s all.
Ferhat
Ferhat,
Armenians are often united when it counts the most. These divisons are ultimately political and thus healthy.
Ferhat, I don’t know where you are getting your wacky numbers regarding Armenia’s military from but I suggest you worry about your “tribesmen” (currently led by the CIA and the Mossad in northern Iraq) instead. For your information, Armenia’s active duty military personnel number around 75 thousand. And Armenia’s leadership simply cannot afford to make any mistakes, and thus far it has not. Against immense odds and without any Western support, we Armenians have been able to create a viable, powerful, progressing nation…
OK Henry, I hope and pray that Armenians stay united.
Wish you all well.
Your Kurdish friend..
Ferhat
Incidentally, Armenia is a haven for Kurds that respect our nation. Despite cultural differences, Armenia has a record of being a friendly destination. Too bad its neighbors don’t reciprocate.
Avetis, I got it through Wikipedia.
Ferhat
Ferhat,
It is no use.While you were the only one -regrettably not a single co-Armenian- to cmment on my above few articles -(for they are busy with their over-enthusiastic give and take,I do appreciate your comments and that come from a Kurd.Me? I really think your presence here of utmost importance,since you -your people have lived alongside our s for millenia-WE WERE BOTH OF same religion then,before we accepted Christianity and then your people Islam.Both very respectable religions and all others.
No ,it is not being not united .I am a Euro Armenian and a Euro -bird on the other side of the ocean.I do make my yearly pilgrimage to RA/Artsakh since near a dozen yrs and that may times.
My only DESIRE IS TO SEE THE ARMENIAN DIASORA ORGANIZED AROUDN A SPER STRUCTURE WITH A SUPREME COUNCIL.To that effect I have had my web page NAMED ARMENIDAD-WORLDWIDE.ORG MEANSARMENITY.COMES FROM SPANIS LIKE COMUNIDAD-ARMENIDAD, THE ENGLISH SPEAKING ARMENIANS HAVE ERRONEOUSLY DUBBED THAT WORD AS ARMENIANISM-OR SOME SUC LIKE.
AS TO UNITY.FRANCE IS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY WITH ALL TREND POOITICAL ARTIES LEFT OR RIGHT ULTRA LEFT ULTRA RIGHT ,BUT WHEN THEIR COUNTRY IS FACED WITH AN OUTER ISSUE-AENA- FOREIGN THEY BECOME ONE .THEY DO NOT UNITE THE CO-OPERATE.MIABANVIL.IT IS MNOT NEESSARY TO CHANGE ONE’S IDEOLOGY..ETC.,
AS TO MY COMMENTS ,I DO NOT ANY MORE COMMENT ON WORLD POLITICS.I WATCH MANY T.V. CHANNELS IN SPANIS,ENGLISH AND ARMENIAN 4 CHANNELS READ A FEW ARMEN PAPERS WRITE TO A FEW IMPORTANT FRIENDS FROM OUR OLD DAQYS OF THE “WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS'(NOW A FEW SUCH MUSHROOMING UP…
ANYHOW,WE SALL B AND BY BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT THE power lies ,no not in the 3/4% ERCENT
ARMENIAN POLITICFAL PARTIES MEMBERS-WITH ALL DUE RESWPECT TO THEM BYT OVER A 100,000 Armenians that are not yesteryear’s telegraphist but much more advanced IT experts so the Banking 7 Finance experts etc., these people are or form our Vertebral column-ALBEIT NOT YET ORGANIZED, but just commencing…
Once these begin, then there is no stopping they will forge aheaad.One thing I do trust my dar compatrits do understand or SOULD BY NOW UNDERSTAND THAT FARHAT ALSO HINTS AT…IS THAT WE ARE NO LONGER A PEOPLE-LIKE THEY ARE, WE ARE NATION/STATE…WITH THE HOMELAD-HAIREIK AN IMNDEPENDENT ENTITY WICH IS WHAT WE SHOULD CHERIS AND BELIEVE IN .IT WAS ACHIEVED BY A TREMENDOUS EFFORT, BLOOD SED AND WHAT NOT THAT OUR NATION WENT THROUGH..
THENCE INSTEAD OF BICKERING WHAT HILLARY SAID OR LAVROV DID NOT..WE SHOULD GET A MOVE ON PUTTING OUR DIASPORA HOUSE IN ORDER IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.PERIOD.NOT BY CRITICIZING EACH OTHER OR THIS THAT CURENT.BUT GETTING ORGANIZED-THAT WHICH I ADVOCATE MAY BE THE SOLUTION TO THAT.BUT FORGIVE ME FOR FAST TYPING AND MAking so many typographical errors.get into the core of the issue. re-organization of the armen diasora…
thaks ferhat for your kind comments.Tell your people we may forgive your past attrocites-alongsde the turk if you ask forgiveness and SDE WITH US FROM NOW ON…IT IS ALSO OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.SOME ARMENS DO NOT REALIZE THAT WE NEED 20 MILLION KURDS TO SIDE WITH US.TERRITORY?
WE CAN DECIDE ON THAT ATER ON.PEOPLE LIKE SELF DON’T THINK LIKE SOME THAT YOUR PEOPLE OUGHT TO GIVE UP LAND MOVE TO THE SEA…WE CAN COEM TO A COMPROMISE ON DIVISION OF LAND.WHT WE NOW OUGHT TO CLAIM -CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME THINK -FROM GREAT TURKEY IS…”BLOOD MONEY” MUCH EASER TO ATTAIN, LIKE THE N.Y.LIFE AND AXA INS. AGREED ADN THENCE ACCEPTED THAT OUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY WHOM ghosts?
ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT PRECEDEMNT IS THE JEWS GEETTING MONE FORM GERMANY A FACT…
TURKEY THSE DAYS BOASTS THEYA RE THE 16TH NATION IN IMPORTANCE FINANCAL WISE, POWER-WISE ETC., LET US AVE THEM COUGH UP MONEY CASH …
HAMA HAIGAGAI SIRO,
GAYTZAG PALANDJIAN
hama