I suppose I owe some gratitude to the “leaders” in Yerevan’s halls of power for making it so easy to mouth off over their often imbecilic actions and policies. Forget about selling out/off natural resources and industrial infrastructure; even forget about the rampant corruption making people impoverished and cynical about building a truly representative government; let’s even turn a blind eye to the fawning and foolish act of honoring the megalomaniacal president of Georgia who’s busy persecuting the Armenians of Javakhk. All these and more are now eclipsed by the wholesale giveaway of Armenia’s and Armenians most basic rights and powerful legal weapons.
Of course I’m referring to the two protocols just released by the government of Armenia, Switzerland, and Turkey. If you haven’t read them, please do, you can find them on this publication’s website. They’re very compact and efficient in dissemination of pathetic policy. Just see how far your jaw drops.
Since I’m not fond of writing long, cumbersome articles, addressing all the foolishness filling those few pages is impossible. I’ll focus on the three most egregious elements in these platitude-filled documents. Discussing Turkey and respect for human rights in the same document, as occurs in the protocols, is just to laughable to address seriously.
The sanctification the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity play right into not only Turkey’s hands, but Azerbaijan’s as well. Silly me, I thought Armenians agreed that we will settle for no less than the Wilsonian demarcation of borders. If the Republic of Armenia says the current border is what it recognizes, then it signs away OUR rights to these territories. Simultaneously, Artzakh gets ceded to Azerbaijan by the same foolish stroke of a pen. Remember, Azerbaijan’s claims to Artzakh are based on the irrelevant, inapplicable “inviolability of borders and territorial integrity” arguments.
Then we have the much touted— by Turkey, its ilk, and their supporters— historical commission. Through these protocols, Armenia agrees to the creation of this stage for endless foot-dragging and a denialist talkfest. Remember TARC? How will this be any different? Just more U.S. Department of State funded meaningless new-age type chatter. While David Krikorian, the Ohio congressional candidate is spending valuable time and money on fighting Genocide denial, what is allegedly the highest official body representing Armenians, the government of the RoA, is busy giving away the store when it comes to Genocide recognition, and, naturally and consequently, reparations for damages arising from this example of Turkey’s malevolence.
Of course there’s the canard about the benefits of opening the Armenia-Turkey border. Turkey’s blockade may well be the best thing happening to Armenia’s minimal economy. Ankara has been successful in developing its economy so that it is one of the fastest growing in the world. Their manufacturing, and even agricultural, products would overwhelm what little Armenia has, further plunging the population into overseas-remittance-reliant misery. The irony here is that Turkey, having imposed the blockade over our success in Artzakh, now finds itself in a jam. Ankara WANTS to reopen the border to benefit its economy, but can’t be perceived as turning on its kissin’-cousins in Baku. What better way out than to get Armenia to BEG for something that hurts Armenia, benefits Turkey, and provides cover against Azerbaijan’s expectations.
What’s going on? For whatever reason, Armenia’s current government has embarked on a losing streak. Plus, these people seem to have incredibly outsized egos, can’t recognize their errors, and therefore don’t cut our losses. It seems that with each step they take in this lurid dance with their Turkish counterparts, they’re trying to efface the shame and embarrassment of the previous step. They serve up some new, even grander plan. But this “new and improved” approach ends up digging them even deeper into a hole of utter shame. Plus they do all this behind closed doors, away from the “prying” eyes of those of us who have a stake in the future of our nation and actually care to make it better.
It’s time to start hitting the government of the RoA much harder than it’s ever been hit. It’s time to demonstrate at official events. It’s time to let our revulsion show. And if after everything they persist in their nationally destructive path, then it will be time to assemble in a national conclave— Artzakh, Javakhk, Turkey’s crypto-Armenians and overt ones too, and Diaspora—to declare that on matters of Armenian rights—territorial, human, Genocide, reparations—the government of the Republic of Armenia has no right to speak for us.
If you agree, please say so, especially when you meet government representatives or visit Armenia. Maybe they’ll get the message.
Why don’t we start a petition and/or call the Armenian embassy in Washington D.C.? We could also send mass e-mails to the Foreign Ministry of Armenia as well as the Office of the President of the RA.
Armenians worldwide should band against the protocals. I’ve read them myself and it is very offensive to the blood, sweat and tears that we have suffered. It is reduculus to think after all these years of protest our own admin is digging there, our and our future childrens graves. Please call, write and protest to the best of your ability and do not let this be passed.
Serge Sarkissian has successfully diverted the nation’s attention from the ill-fated post-election violence that killed eight people in the streets of Yerevan in March 1st 2008. What better way to use this great card, Genocide and relations with Turkey, as personal Teflon shield.
This guy has proven to be a dangerous individual, he always was since being the right-hand man of Levon Ter-Petrossian. The popular saying “he would sell his mother” fits perfectly to this egotistical megalomaniac.
To ARF Armenia, demand his resignation NOW!
This is crazy!! we just forget our past.. this is what the armenians been fighting for for the past 94 years!! now you are telling me lets be friends!!! WHAT?? come on Armenians NEVER Forgive NEVER Forget
IF ARMENIANS DID NOT LEARN NOT TO TRUST TURKISH
POLITICKS FOR THE LAST 500 YEARS, THEY HAVE LEARNED NOTHING
AND THEY WILL BECOME SLAVES OF THE TURKS AGAIN.
IF THEY SIGN THE PAPERS THAT THE TURKS AND SOME OTHER GOVERNMENTS
ARE GIVING TO ARMENIANS.
Dear God in Heaven, what on earth is going on here? We tried to band with the Turks once and got stabbed in the back, among other body parts…they are in this only to get into the EU, and we are going to give away the farm…a sad day in our history.
I agree 100% with this article.
Thanks to our brilliant politicians, it seems like Turkey has got istelf into a win win situation. on the one hand our losses will be tremendous if the protocols are implemented, if not Turkey will succeed in creating a deeper division between diaspora Armenians and the government of Armenia.
One way out of this mess would be to suspend discussion of the protocols, immediatley grant every single Armenian anywhere in the world a full and unconditional Armenian citizenship with the right to vote and hold general as well as presidential elections as soon as possible to elect leaders with a clear, mature and logical political vision.