SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN BE UNDERSTOOD

Vahe H. Apelian

A decade or so ago, Stephen Covey’s book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” became a holy grail of sorts in the business world. Companies had their employees attend classes to learn these seven basic habits ostensibly people who are effective and can get things done, use. I admit that there were useful instructions that people could learn from and use in their daily dealings with each other. Those who are interested may search and read in the Internet what those seven habits are. Stephen Covey passed away in 2012.

The 5^th habit, among the 7 habits he had listed, reads as follows: “Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood”. I was reminded of the fifth habit Steven Covey proposed because of the commentaries and postings that have been going on the Armenian social media stemming from Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian’s foreign policy declaration in the National Assembly of Armenia on February 11, 2021. Although almost seven weeks have passed since the FM’s declaration, but it appeared it caught the attention of the public and the PM Pachinyan’s opposition lately because of upcoming snap election.

What did FM say on February 11, 2021? TASS reported that FM said the following: "Turkey should gradually resume normal processes under the international community’s pressure. I mean that there are no more reasons to keep its border with Armenia closed. As you know, the border closure stemmed from the status quo in Artsakh [the name used by ethnic Armenians for the internationally unrecognized self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh], which was changed by force. Turkey has no more reasons to keep the border with Armenia closed,”

A few days ago Nikol Pachinyan declared that he will resign from his post as the PM of Armenia on April 24,2021 to make room for the upcoming snap elections scheduled to take place 8 weeks after his resignation, on June 20, 2021. It is obvious that Nikol Pachinyan has already started campaigning and during his campaign trail he has made announcements that are conciliatory towards Turkey and are in line with what the FM of Armenia is seeking, opening the border between Armenia and Turkey.

Opening the Turkish Armenian border appears to resonate with some segments of the Armenian citizens as well. Naturally what they think matter. After all, they are the ones who can vote and will participate in the upcoming election and will be casting their votes in favor or against PM’s MY STEP movement as such or in coalition with others. 

I virtually attended Armenian career journalist and researcher Tatul Hagopian’s presentation in the St. Leon Armenian Apostolic church hall on Saturday March 27, 2021.  Tatul Hagopian advocated that the sovereign state of Armenia should establish relations with Turkey, however hard such a bi-lateral relations is to the Armenians, he claimed, simply because Armenia has no other choice and that in the long run Armenia will have to deal with Turkey, Tatul claimed.

I do not know yet what relations with Turkey will entail. I also do not know if Turkish officials have in any way voiced in favor of opening their border with Armenia, and if they have, under what conditions are they willing to establish relations with Armenia. Surely the relations with Turkey will come at a price. But have we not knowingly paying that price? No government in Armenia since September 21, 1991 has understandably laid claims of Western Armenia, which will amount to the Armenian government laying a territorial claim.

While I do not know what relations with Turkey will entail, but I surmise the following is well understood.

1. The FM’s February 11, 2021 declaration pertained Turkey. The FM did not mention Azerbaijan or relations with Azerbaijan.

2. The FM’s declaration was for bi-lateral relations between two SOVEREIGN STATES, Armenia and Turkey.

3. Relation with Turkey is not meant for us to forgo our history. Any comments that the FM or the PM was hinting Armenian to forgo genocide is false. The Genocide monument in Armenia is going nowhere. April 24 will continue to be a national holiday where citizens will be exempted from work to attend commemorating the genocide, which will continue to be taught in our schools

And so forth…

In short, I am not sufficiently informed to fully grasp or have a fuller understanding  the ramifications of FM’s February 11, 2021 declaration to side in favor of the policy or not. But, during his talk in St. Leon Church hall what Tatul Hagopian noted remained etched in my memory. Understandably different mindsets prevail between the Diaspora and Armenia. After all its the citizens of Armenia who bear the brunt of the blockade but not the Diaspora Armenians.  At one point, addressing the audience that was understandably cool to his claim of relations with Turkey, said and then asked the following, “I am from Armenia. If I am wrong, tell me what (viable) options do we have in Armenia?” Surely it is a heart-wrenching question that grinds us to our cores. Will isolationism assure the long term viability of Armenia as a self sufficient country? What about opening the border with Turkey, will it contribute to the long term viability of Armenia as a sovereign state? We all unmistakably know Turkey. Let our differing views on this existential matter, at no time question the other's appreciation of our history and the understanding with who we are to deal with, namely the Turks.

The other statement he made was the following: “ I expected the defeat will result in greater self-examination”. That sure has not happened, at least not yet. What has transpired thus far is a search for that ultimate traitor akin to the Vasak Syuini of the Vartanants War. Simply said a veritable cacophony of voices prevail for now in the world that is Armenia, instead of a full fledge debate and soul searching as to the cause of this catastrophic defeat and about relations with our bordering hostile neighbors.