E-Mail 'Artsakh at 24: A Reality Check' To A Friend

10 Comments

1. This baffles me… How about the EU and United States tell Turkey to return Western Armenian lands to the Armenian people and we also keep Artsakh since the land was Armenias to begin with. Also historic Armenia reached to the Caspian Sea so have them return all of Azerbaijan lands to the Armenians and they can move back to Turkmenistan.

2. This is incredibly important and needs to be read and acted upon by all Armenians. In the US, we must stand up for the rule of law, which incorporates the right of self determination as it has been demonstrated in Artsakh. Karabagh defended itself in a war of aggression and prevailed with the help of patriotic Americans like Monte Melkonian, who gave his life for the homeland. Don’t let the American government continue to bow to oil interests and Turkish demands. Stand up for freedom against tyranny. Isn’t that what it means to be an American?

3. Just got back from Armenia and Artsakh a month ago after a two week trip. The impressions was encouraging. First off, there were a lot of tourists, I met an American (Anglo-Saxon Protestant type) girl teaching English, a German man translating the works of Movses Khorenatsi, a Yuppie from Hong Kong who was traveling the Caucuses and in Shushi there was a tour bus full of Chinese tourists. The only problem was the tour bus didn’t really tell them what was going on. I explained the role of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral during the siege of Stepanakert and they were appalled. Alongside the Vardenis-Martakert Highway there is also a high voltage power line under construction. It’s fairly obvious that the RoA does not intend to let Artsakh remain isolated for much longer. As for Azeri provocations, as soon as Armenia has control of the Iskander missle system it purchased from Russia the fight will basically be over. The ability to blow up half of Baku will make the fight all too real for Aliyev, who wants to keep his people ignorant of the hopeless reality they face at the frontline.

4. you are not alone best wishes from Australai

5. No matter how much we diasporans are brow beaten about our Armenian heritage, when returning from visiting our spiritual homeland we Armenians just don’t come back with a warm and fuzzy feeling. After all, we are just another tourist.

6. Main purpose of all these bogus negotiations are to create false hope and consequently derail our focus on imminent danger from Azerbaijan.
   Armenia needs to go nuclear soon.

7. … one may conclude that the European Union and the United States have decided that Artsakh cannot be independent and must be returned to Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction… HOWEVER THE WEST DID NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO CONFRONT RUSSIA IN THE CASE OF CRIMEA.

8. It is important to remind the world that the people of Artsakh invoked the USSR constitution seeking secession from Azerbaijan. Artsakh people voted for independence. Unfortunately the USSR Supreme Soviet did not approve the people’s. vote for self-determination which sadly reflects in the attitude of EU and US. The International law protecting state’s territorial integrity and the right to self- determination are mutually exclusive. Major powers espouse one or the other whichever fits their politics. Case in point is Kosovo. The US led NATO forces against Yugo- slavia in defence of the right to self-determination of Kosovars to become independent! At the time it suited the US to breakup Yugoslavia.
   I think Armenia and Artsakh should retaliate to Azeri border provocation in a very powerful way by setting ablaze the oilfields in Baku and blow up the oil pipeline (only 50 miles away). That is the only way to make Azerbaijan understand enough is enough.

9. I just returned from Armenia and Artsakh yesterday. During my first visit to Artsakh in 2012 I spent five days and visited most of Artsakh. This year’s visit was with my wife who was visiting it for the first time. I fully agree that we have to increase Armenian visitors from the Diaspora, but we also have to encourage western foreign nationals to visit Artsakh and understand the issues.
   The good people of Artsakh have come a long way; I noticed a lot of progress in general infrastructure, but there’s still a lot to be done to attract the educated, professional and informed western tourist. Right now Artsakh people need an urgent crash course in Tourism 101. Consultants and NGOs should get there urgently and advise. Besides rule 0, the five basic principles of what is missing on the ground are the following:
   Rule 0: Spending all of one’s financial and human resources on “decor”, fancy stonework for outside walls, fancy floor tiling, and rooms with 12 foot high ceilings is inefficient and not enough; the hospitality operation has then to be supported with adequate facilities and services;
   1. Good bedding with top quality mattresses; a must!
   2. Upgraded general catering, with tasty healthy cooking and much quicker service.
   3. Friendly front desk staff, always responding with a smile and getting the job done.
   4. WIFI working 24/7 in lobby, aisles and rooms.
   5. Well trained tour guides that are there to state the facts but also to sell our positions, talk about the war and liberation of our lands and the future we are seeking in stronger terms, be much more political, show the damaged caused to buildings from Azeri shelling from Shushi. Being shy and always politically correct in every word pronounced does not serve our purpose, since there are no Turks nor Azeris among the visiting crowds anyway. One wonders why the strategic Fort in Shushi was “closed” to visitors in high season? After one full day in Stepanakert, foreign nationals were asking me: “why did they need a Visa?”, and was “Artsakh trying to separate itself from Armenia!?! or Azerbaidjan?” It is mind boggling for Armenians to hear such questions, I responded to their queries of course, and even more. Perhaps tour guides have to spend equal time, if not more, in delivering their remarks in English. English is the language for selling our positions; Armenian and Russian are not. After spending long hours in churches and monasteries, guides should spend as much time as possible to sell our future positions in English please, to western visitors.
   But I responde to their queries

10. We Armenians of the Diaspora and our homeland have the knowhow, determination and courage to protect and maintain what IS OURS. All we need is the leadership and action. Diaspora should show its complete and unconditional willingness to support our homeland not just morally but also financially, technically and active support to achieve these goals. Ability to exert severe military punishment for EACH AND EVERY Azeri aggression is the key for our survival ans success, not just relying on the world to take the right and just action. Let us just take an example from the West Bank settlements.

Comments are closed.