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Michael Mensoian

Michael Mensoian

Michael Mensoian, J.D./Ph.D, is professor emeritus in Middle East and political geography at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a retired major in the U.S. army. He writes regularly for the Armenian Weekly.

9 Comments

  1. [“It is absolutely vital that the diaspora believe that it has a stake in Artsakh’s future.”]

    The Diaspora does not even believe that it has a stake in Armenia’s future. Even Armenians in Armenia do not believe they have a stake in their undemocratic country. The Armenian government (ruled by the Karabakh clan) does what it wants or what Putin tells it to do. As long as the “Artsakh” police brutally beat Armenian activists, as long as its officials threaten Diasporan activists (as it happened to Ara Manoogian during the 2013 telethon), as long as Karabakh clan rules Armenia as its feudal fiefdom while denying Armenians their right to govern their country, the Diaspora cannot believe that it has a stake in either Armenia’s or Karabakh’s future.

    [“we must all commit to help Stepanakert (1) expand its settlements in the liberated territories, (2) continue to develop its economy, and (3) increase and strengthen the emotional bond between its people and the diaspora.”]

    Why, so they keep brutalizing Armenian protesters with impunity? Any help to “Stepanakert” or Armenia should be conditioned on them becoming democratic. Armenians who flee the country give the clear message that they have no interest in committing to a state that denies them their basic rights. There is no reason that we Diasporans should make any such commitment.

  2. It is really shameful that these people go on talking about Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Do not they know that Ardzakh (NK) was Armenian land and populated mostly by Armenians. Stalin gave it to Azerbaijan to please Turkish government. What about the integrity of Armenians and Armenia? May be Mr. James Warlick should ask Turkey about Armenian lands in Turkey. The West was very eager to create two countries for Muslims after the break up of Yugoslavia: Kosovo, Bosnia and Hertsgovina and recognize them as independent countries very shortly after that. Yet, they find it very difficult to acknowledge the independence of Ardzakh.
    Mr. James Warlick always talks about the return of refugees, perhaps the right question for him is to ask Azerbaijan how come they have not been able to settle about 700,000 Azeri refugees with their billions of petrodollars and also the land and the houses left by about 350,000 Armenians who fled after the pogroms. He should do the honourable thing and resign from this committee because he is biased and one wonders what is his connection to Azerbaijan or Turkey. West betrayed Armenians once and now they are trying to do the same thing again. How long are Armenians going to wait for the
    integrity of Armenia’s territories?

    • *** Yes, you are totally right, the west is in Turkish pockets, Azerbaijan has absolutely no rights to talk abut territorial integrity,really..? it is an artificially created country to begin with, Artsakhs is a historic Armenian land and territory with Armenian population, Period.!!!!

  3. Same USA that doesn’t officially recognize the AG? Of course it is. The USA is NO moral beacon and basically is morally corrupt when it comes to foreign policy.. Its DIRECT nation building in Syria and the human cost of collateral damage that is sows show they don’t care about anyone or anything. Just politically shaping it to their and their ‘friends’ liking.

    So Armenia should not care and basically disregard what a dishonest and insincere “broker of peace” thinks. The Only Answer is to STRENGTHEN THE ARMENIAN AND ARTSTAKh ARMY. Fortify it to the teeth. That’s is the ONLY true guarantee of it security. If not for that they would have all been butchered by the Turks by now..

    The VERY LESSON of the AG itself is Armenian UNITY. Thats the Answer.

  4. Michael Mensoian
    A name to be revered in political circles.
    Let us give credit where it’s due!

  5. There is no such dilemma as Artsax has never been independent Azbdn territory. It has always been Armenian land continuously populated by Armenians. For a short time due to Stalin decree it was incorporated into az ssr as autonomous region, but cede edged from it at the collapse of the Soviet Union following very letter of then activ soviet law,m and prior to establishment of independent Azbdn republic.

  6. Vahagn’s political analysis reflects total lack of diplomatic language (not sure if he represents the spokesperson of the Diaspora and considers himself a diplomat otherwise a more respectable language will be welcome). It is absolutely wrong judgment that such comments are even made public by ‘The Armenian Weekly’ in its edition of these articles. Freedom of speech, Pope Francis declared while in Australia, should be balanced and have good reasons to be credible.

  7. it is time to forget the fake territorial integrity of azerb. the people have fought and spilled blood for the liberation of their land from oppression they are free and happy. changing the situation will create i believe another Genocide and a great tragedy these countries should be thinking of the well being and safety of people of Artsakh not of what stalin created!!! and their special intrests.

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