An Armenia Paradox: Can’t we all just get along? Okay. We can’t. But, still . . .

An Armenia Paradox: Cant we all just get along? Okay. We cant. But, still . . .

Published: 10 July, 2009

article Now is the time for all good Armenians to come to the aid of their country.

Not in recent years has the need for solidarity (or at least the appearance of) among Spyurkahye and Hyeastantsi, Oppositionists and Government, Dashnaks and Whatnots seemed as urgent as now.

These are days filled with discussion and debate over Armenias immediate future and whether it will be a future any where near fulfilling expectations that might have seemed reasonable in the uncertain but optimistic days of early independence.




This weekend, experts and the significant concerned are meeting in Stepanakert to discuss and probably cuss the current Armenia-Turkey negotiations to normalize relations.

The conference expected to draw representatives from 20 countries is hosted by the Dashnaks (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) who, themselves, have already concluded that Serzh Sargsyans Armenia is on a slippery slope with neighborhood relations. They demonstrated their disapproval by abdicating their role in the Government, giving up leadership posts in the ministries of education, agriculture and social affairs, in April.

The conclave comes as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concludes a visit by its troika France, United States, Russia in the presence of the Minsk Group.

It comes, too, as cultural representatives of Azerbaijan and Russia completed a mission to Karabakh last weekend in a failed attempt at peoples diplomacy.

Other significant meetings correspond, including this weeks sit down of US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

With the current focus on the Caucasus (coming with rumors of another Russia-Georgia war) Armenia has a chance to make a dent in the iron curtain of irrelevance that has kept it from prospering. (And, no, double digit economic growth is not our definition of prospering.)

But:

Armenia a nation that surely is not defined by the borders of this tiny thumbnail drawn by Bolsheviks suffers because its body politik is amputated from its vox populi by irreconcilable acrimony among political leaders that discredits the former and disenfranchises the latter.

The ideological disconnect is widened by a Diaspora that views todays Armenia through the prism of the Genocide, and rarely manages to evaluate early 21st century necessities, outside the cloud of early 20th century atrocities.

The recent skewering of US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch on her tour of American-Armenian communities underscored the intention of Diaspora to place Genocide Recognition above all other concerns. (See Diplomacy Challenge)

Meanwhile, at home, an ambassador to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was getting her own feel of feet in the fire as Heritage Deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan was cursed and castigated by short-sighted nationalists for whom apparently the words consent and compromise are synonymous. (See: In Defense of a Hero of Armenia)

This week, the Civilitas Foundation (www.civilitas.am) hosted a forum Vulgarity vs. Political Debate for discussion on why it is that Armenians cant seem to disagree without being disagreeable.

Foundation director Salpi Ghazarian rightly summarized a condition that sorely needs correcting. Speaking of the failure of Armenian leadership to criticize without turning to insult, Ghazarian said: While cursing each other domestically, they are seeking solutions at international structures.

And what message does that send? Not a good one.

A favored Armenian joke is of an Armenian who after years being stranded is rescued from an island.

Upon being rescued it is learned that the Armenian has built two churches on the island where he is the only inhabitant. He is asked why he needs two.

One is where I worship

And the other?

Oh, Id NEVER go to that church!

In this moment of opportunity, and for the sake of a place that needs attention and support, is it possible that unity might displace divisiveness? Probably not.

But cant we at least fake it long enough to satisfy the begrudged but undeniable powers who hold Armenias future more tightly than Armenia herself?

ArmeniaNow.com