Opinion
Do Armenians have a future as an independent nation? Part 1
Author’s Note: This series aims to spark a conversation about our nation, defined as Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora, and the potential perils and opportunities ahead of us. Acknowledging that optimism and strategic thinking and planning are key components of our future success, we must temper them with our past experiences
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Well done Ara.
You captured what many are thinking.
Hoping we can do what we must to avoid the worst case scenario.
We as the collective Armenian nation have yet again demonstrated why we will never be a prosperous nation, we have failed to seize all opportunities to build a prosperous nation, from the criminal gangs that led our nation from 1991 to 2018 and then to a spinless leader who fell for the promises of Western support. What we need is for the disapora to wake the hell up, we need a strong and capable armed forces and MONEY, the rest is utter garbage, Russia, USA , NATO, EU all will betray us as they have always done, with a strong military and strong finances we will overcome, otherwise please start practicing the azad and ankhagh revolutionary songs. We need to take the initiative and annually raise $5 Billion USD NOW, not in 10 years time but now. Otherwise watch as the Turks divide our nation between themselves and Russia. Appoint a board of trustees from Non Political groups, manage and spend the funds only for military and economic projects, then watch how they all take us seriously, in short the Israeli model. I dont trust a single Armenian politician, including the current and past.
Definitely we must be like israel as politically but for this we must give up good relations with lran for west politics to create balance russia and west
its not only the diaspora that ‘needs to wake the hell up” its the Armenians in Armenia that need to wake the hell up big time. Maybe too many over there are more concerned with what to drive or what the latest styles are…they need to become politically aware and realize the current government is selling the country out to the turks – who are only too happy to oblige. the turks will overwhelm and turkify little Armenia with turkish goods and immigration….
the genocide meanwhile seems to be an increasingly annoying ‘thing of the past’ among people in Armenia who see it as an impediment to ‘normal’ relations with the turks – they don’t understand that the turkic objective is still eradication of Armenians – ‘peace’ is purely a smokescreen in this case.
Dr, Nazarian.
I don’t usually comment on articles such as this because I am not Armenian. But I have invested in the country for over 10 years and have 100+ working for me [the largest payroll in Gyumri]. It is working with these 20-something young men and women, I can honestly simply say shame on you. How dare you judge these Armenians you clearly know nothing about. I have several young men who could have opted out of going to war but chose to risk their lives for Armenia. Where were you? Did you fly over and take up arms and risk your life? These people are not fish in a fish tank swimming for your pleasure and judgment.
Then after the war when many were depressed and disillusioned as you are, they chose to stay in their country, city and community to make it better. Over 90% of people who work for me could go get a job in Europe at any time. They are top-tier specialists who want to rebuild and change the city and community they love into a prosperous eco-friendly for their children and are starting with Distrikt.am .
Your so-called social contract is alive and ubiquitous in Armenia. The problem is they don’t want to have it with petty people like yourself who are filled with spite and condescending judgment. You wrote above “unwillingness to be accountable for our actions and to hold others accountable”. Well I am holding you accountable and calling you out for your inaccurate and incautious article. It might make you feel better, but is devoid of patriotism.
I will be traveling back to Armenia in the last week of September and the first two weeks of October. I invite you to come with me and experience the incredible young men and women who have taught me what the true definition of patriotism and success.
–Todd Fabacher
sorry it should say “I have several young men who could have opted out of staying home safe, but went to war and chose to risk their lives for Armenia.”
Soviet minded Armenian politicians wasted diaspora fund money for personal purchase,while hundred thousand armenians suffer in middle east arab countries also lran&turkey plus central asia we need bring back them to Armenia while unskilled local armenians leave to work in russia population decrease solution is persecuated but skillful armenians in middle east move settle in Armenia. Armenins should serve in their country for their nation not turks arabs persians kurds
“The average Armenian citizen does not demonstrate even a fraction of these traits.” OK – but an awful lot of those average citizens have and continue to serve in the army and/or send their sons to the army. An awful lot of those average citizens and/or their sons were killed or wounded in the last war. It’s those average citizens who go to work everyday to supply the gas, water, electricity, transport, education, food, etc. that allow Armenia to live. Perhaps all efforts should be aimed at creating an Armenia that is worthy of the sacrifices of the “average Armenian citizen” rather than an Armenia that serves any oligarch or armchair diasporan patriot.
Armenia’s natural place in the world today is in a close union with the Russian Federation. Armenia was resurrected in the early 19th century by the Russian Bear. For the past two hundred years Armenia has been able to live in a dangerous neighborhood like the south Caucasus only because of its ties to Russia. The last few years have shown beyond any doubt that Armenians are not ready for independence, and may not be ready for well into the foreseeable future. Armenia’s independence from Russia will therefore only translate to Armenia’s dependence on Turkey. And if Russia for any reason pulled out of Armenia today, Armenia will disappear from the map the very next day. For better or for worst, Armenia is wed to Russia. If you are an Armenian patriot, support the marriage…
Are you sure you are a “Concerned Armenian”? You look more like a concerned russian.
Armenia is an Independent, Sovereign Republic, and anyone questioning our sovereignty and independence is breaking the law. We are married to our Homeland, A Sovereign and Independent Armenia(Artsakh included), and have no intention of brake that union.
Dear Serop, no matter where you go in the world, the average citizen does most of the heavy lifting. Tbhose average citizens who live in better off nations, get to enjoy the benfits of a system that works for them. The average citizens of Armenia and similar countries don’t, unfortunately. While you are absolutely right that a better Armenia should be built for them, but it is these citizens that need to do so through extra effort. Nobody else will do it for them, just as nobody else buildt Sweden for the average Swede, other than generations of average Swedes. The point of this exercise is just that – we want everything but we don’t really want to do muh about it. All those experiences of the average Armenian that you mentioned are personal responsibilities. We need to augment them with societal responsibilities. Then, we will build the Armenia thqt you and I would love to see.
Both the article and the follow up comment over generalize the nature of the average citizens of Armenia. Did 4,000 men just die for their “personal responsibilities”? Do 10,000 wounded need to make Armenia better “through extra effort?” When that many families are willing to sacrifice life and limb, that clearly evidences a general responsibility to the greater good. Whatever Armenia’s shortcomings (and they are many), even the Swedes could learn a thing or two from the Armenians. Never good to sacrifice obvious truths to make an argument.
Serop – the point is to engage in discussions we do not have, unfortunately. Stating things such as swedes can learn from us, or we have the strongest lobby in the US, simply allows us to believe in a comfortable narrative and again preclude us from taking action. why would we want to do anything if Swedes can learn from us? Of course, this is a simplificaiton, but you get the concept.
we lost a treacherous war because our leadership “fought” to lose a war. We paid dearly with the life and limb of a generation. these heroes made the ultimate sacrifice following a commander-in-chief who wanted to capitulate and could only do so under the guise of a massive loss. These heroes and their families deserve our utmost respect and support.
Dear Ara, by your article you mean that newly independent Armenia never went through the process of thinking about and establishing a state that will support a modern country. After all, Armenians have not had the experience of having and running an independent country for centuries, unlike Turkey, Russia and Iran. There was never a process of state-building in Armenia. The kind of government the country ended up with, after independence from the Soviet Union, was basically continuation of the Soviet government with elections thrown in as substitute for real democracy.
correct – yet, we must do so, albeit late 30 years, but better late than never – we simply need to make that conscious decision as a nation
The sub headline of your article says it all. “ Or are we satisfied with a status similar to that of the Assyrians today ?” .You seem to answer your own rhetorical question as YES. Parts 1 -3 of your article gives a long list of problems facing the Armenian personality, society and government. The cure for all these ills will take at least a generation or two if not longer. Yet Armenia and Artsakh face existential threats today. You don’t say so in the articles but similar issues have faced the diaspora for at least 100 years. A fundamental question to ask is WHY IS THE ARMENIAN SOCIETY THE WAY IT IS? Can a society that has behaved as irresponsibly as it has, deserve to have a country? I am not questioning for a minute the selfless patriotism of the men and women who have sacrificed for Armenia’s defense since 1991. But to have a country with defensible borders, one needs much more than brave fighters. As you point out in parts 1-3 one needs a complex functioning STATE and diaspora NATION with advanced education, modern economy that provides jobs and livelihood for a family, advanced technology for defense, a wise diplomatic corp , a strong leadership and opposition that knows the difference between internal OPONNENTS and external ENEMIES, and finally a VISION of where the country should be in 2122.