Vahe H Apelian
A Diaspora coat-of-arms fashioned by Garo Konyalian
In my opinion there is an engrained misconstrued mindset about Armenia in the Diaspora. There is no question that Diaspora Armenians’ concerns for Armenia and the Armenians in Armenia are genuine. However, when the very same concerns overstep and crosse the boundaries from humanitarian, historical, cultural or social ties and intrude into the doings of the Armenian government instituted by the citizens of Armenia, those very concerns become part and parcel of the politics in Armenia brought onto the Diaspora, where it has no recourse, other than fragmenting the Diaspora.
It is commendable of course that Armenians in the Diaspora identify themselves with Armenia. Woe to us and may God forbid if it ceases to be so. Diaspora Armenians identifying themselves with Armenia and its inhabitants should be cared for and nurtured.
But there is difference between cultural identification and political identification. Cultural identification stems from our shared historical experiences that have been transmitted to us and even experienced by us or some of us and shared among us. After all, those cultural and historical ties unite us more than anything else.
Political identification is an altogether different matter. It is a false narrative to claim that Diaspora’s political identification with Armenia stems from its concerns for its cultural and historical ties. It simply cannot be because political identification has its norms, structures and laws and regulations that govern the political process and is local. We all instinctively know, even if we claim otherwise, that the Diaspora Armenians cannot be part of the Armenian political process. But we may of course and should be, part of a Diaspora political process. Both naturally have in mind the safety and security of Armenia and the welfare of the Armenians. But each process is driven differently and has its own tempo. In popular parlance, Armenia and Diaspora play different ball games.
I became reflective of Diaspora’s overstepping into Armenia’s political process when I read the following this past week.
The Armenian Weekly reported that on November 29, 2023, ARF CC members met Catholicos Aram and among other things, “discussed the genocide in Artsakh and its aftermath, including the internal political situation in Armenia and the lack of governmental support for the displaced people of Artsakh.” Frankly speaking I believe the Diaspora Armenians and its leadership should be concerned of the support Diaspora is rendering to the those forcefully displaced from Atsakh to Armenia, instead of rendering a judgment on Armenia’s government’s lack of support.
A few weeks before that meeting took place I had translated and posted on my blog Lucy Deukmejian’s take on the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Lucy has repatriated to Armenia several years ago. She noted that “However imperfect or lacking were the methods and steps of the administration of Armenia, one cannot fail to appreciate the fact that the state immediately welcomed our compatriots from Artsakh with an open heart and spared no effort to shelter them by allocating housing and financial assistance, and by creating work opportunities, providing medical services and placing the children in the schools of Armenia.” She further dwelt on the challenges the Armenian government is facing and attempting to overcome for the benefit of the Artsakh Armenians but rightfully noted that "we all know Armenia is not a country with unlimited resources." Those interested may read my translation of the article she posted on Keghartdotcom. I attached the link below.
On December 12, 2023, the Armenian Weekly posted Harut Sassounian’s weekly column titled “Armenian government adds unnecessary burdens on already suffering Artsakhsis.” The Armenian government he claims “led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has a hidden agenda in treating Artsakh Armenians as non-citizens.” Why that hidden agenda? According to Harut it's politics of the most sinister kind because he claims that the Armenian government is denying the Artsakh Armenians that they are citizens of Amrneia so that they would not vote against Civil Contract coalition, whose representatives, Harut claims, are responsible for the loss of Artsakh.
Were the Artsakh Armenians, citizens of Armenia who owned properties in the Republic of Artsakh? Were they citizens of Armenia who chose not to exercise their constitutional rights and take part in the political process in Armenia but took part in Artsakh as citizens of Artsakh Republic? Did the Artsakh Armenians abide by the conscription laws of Armenia and served in the Armenian armed forces as the citizens of Armenia do? Is the international aid not earmarked for the Artsakh refugees in Armenia but is earmarked to the citizens of Armenia of Artsakh extraction?
I have no answers to such and myriad of such questions. But I know that there are complex issues pertaining to Artsakh Armenians’ rightful claims for the properties they left behind, that need to addressed after careful study. I also know that the displaced Artsakh Armenians enjoy all the privileges that citizens of Armenia do for employment, social assistance. If I were to draw a parallel, I would liken them to the lawful U.S. immigrants possessing “green card”, as I held once. It granted me all the privileges of an American citizen other than voting, which was then the least of my concerns. Harut will do a better service by addressing the issues that confront Armenians in America than meddle in politics in Armenia when he remains cocooned in the Diaspora.
The last episode is my reading of Dikran Jinbashian’s heartfelt article in Aztag Daily on November 28, 2023. It is titled “What is a fatherland?” (Ի՞նչ է Հայրենիքը). In the article he takes issue with the PM of Armenia articulating that Armenia is 29,800 sq. km real estate with its own state. Naturally Dikran agrees that that Armenia should be nurtured and cared for but that it is a piece of historic Armenia and that Armenians have rightful historical claims. The PM's crossroad for peace policy, Dikran claims, is undermining Armenia's historic right and that right is not being upheld by the PM and his officials.
Reading Dikran’s heartfel article, I was reminded of Hrant Dink who repeatedly drew the distinction between the state and the nation and would emphatically make a point that we are henceforth a state. Indeed, we are. A state and its officials have understandable constraints and Armenia and its officials are acting within those constrains and will continue to act within those constraints. It is Diaspora that is failing in upholding and perpetuating our legacy, be it culture, history, language; and Diaspora is failing big time
‘There was a time when “Armenianhood” was presented as a mythical bird whose one wing is Armenia and the other Diaspora. I remember Zori Balayan bringing it often as an example. The fact of the matter is that, much like any other mythical creature, that Armenian bird with one wing Armenia and the other Diaspora, also does not exist.
I liken us in Armenia and in Diaspora, as a family where members have matured on their own tempo but moved away. But they share a legacy, and maybe also a family business where each may have an opinion as how to best perpetuate the legacy or continue upholding the business. The thing that binds the family members is their trust in each other. If there is no trust in the family members spread out to Armenia or elsewhere in this wide world that is the Armenian Diaspora, it becomes a matter I rather not articulate to end this blog.
Notes:
Diaspora Coat-of-Arms: http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/12/proposed-armenian-diaspora-coat-of-arms_16.html
Lucy Deukmejian - http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/11/if-you-dont-help-armenia-at-least-dont.html
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