“Hayakve”: I am at a loss

Vahe H Apelian

 

There is an initiative that is going in Armenia called “Hayakve”, which is a made-up word and a play on the word “Havagve”, which means get together. Initially I thought that is what the initiative meant, to come together at certain locations and vote for the initiative that will criminalize recognizing Artsakh part of Azerbaijan, and for the sitting government to declare that they, or any Armenian for that matter, remain faithful to the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia, the Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Council of July 8 1992. Otherwise, the government will have to resign ostensibly a government that abides by the dictates of the initiative will be sworn in.

The text of "Hayakve" inititiative is simple. Whoever signs it attest to the following as a Statement of Confirmation (Havasdakir - Հավաստագիր): "Today you take control of the Constitution and laws of your state. the fate of your generations.."

 The following documents in chronological order have been cited pertaining to the “Hayakve” initiative: The Declaration of Independence on 23 August 1990, the September 21, 1991 referendum, the July 8, 1992 Supreme Council declaration, the Constitution of Armenia (1995). I simply could not track down  the July 8, 1992 declration  in the internet. I wish a reader could link to that declaration. But whatever that declaration was, it was made AFTER the referendum that was held on September 21, 1991 that overwhelmingly voted in favor of Armenia secede from the Union of the Soviet Republics and declare Armenia a as free and independent republic.   As to the Armenian Constitution, it pertains to Repubic of Armenia, as stipulated in the Declaration of Independence and naturally there is no  mention of Artsakh in it.

Quoting Wikipedia “An independence referendum was held in the Armenia SSR (note; Soviet Socialist Republic) on 21 September 1991 to determine whether to secede from the Soviet Union. It followed a declaration of independence on 23 August 1990. 99.5% of voters voted in favor, with a turnout of 95%. The country officially became an independent state on 23 September 1991”

What did the August 23, 1990, ARMENIAN DECLRATION OF INDEPENDENCE, declare? I quote its preamble: 

“The Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic

Expressing the united will of the Armenian people;

Aware of its historic responsibility for the destiny of the Armenian people engaged in the realization of the aspirations of all Armenians and the restoration of historical justice;

Proceeding from the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the generally recognized norms of international law;

Exercising the right of nations to free self-determination;

Based on the December 1, 1989, joint decision of the Armenian SSR Supreme Council and the Artsakh National Council on the "Reunification of the Armenian SSR and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh;"

Developing the democratic traditions of the independent Republic of Armenia established on May 28, 1918; declares….

1.  The Armenian SSR is renamed the Republic of Armenia (Armenia). The Republic of Armenia shall have its flag, coat of arms, and anthem.”

(Link: https://www.gov.am/en/independence/ )

We have designated September 21 as a non-working holiday and for the past over three decades have been celebrating it as Armenia’s Independence Day. That is to say the declaring that the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia is a free and independent republic. 

For the past over three decades, there were three successive presidential governments of Armenia, including the last president Serzh Sargsyan, who also was the first post-independence prime minister of Armenia, but resigned only after a week, for reasons we know. None of these governments as well as the present government could recognize the Mountainous Republic of Karabagh (later termed Republic of Artsakh) as a sovereign state, nor recognized it as part of Armenia.  But, in spite of that bitter reality, the “Hayakve” initiative is led by the same principals who regretfully could not recognize Artsakh as an entity outside Azerbaijan.

 If this initiative is meant to criminalize Armenia negotiating with Azerbaijan to recognize its border, with Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, regretful as it is, there is no doubt in my mind that Azerbaijan will have no objection whatsoever as it will seal the fate of the Artsakh Armenians and relegate it to the whims of the Azeri authorities. Let us be mindful that Azerbaijan does not need Armenia to recognize its border. Let us face it, Azerbaijan does not recognize the Russian brokered agreement it signed, it displays an absolute post war control over its border, does not even deploy border guards to secure it. Instead, it has “environmentalists” doing it, As to the world, it has long recognized Mountainous Karabagh / Artsakh as pat of Azerbaijan. 

Consequently, I am at a loss in figuring out what this initiative aims to achieve.

"Hayakve" initiative