A matter of (existential) prioritization.

Vahe H. Apelian 

 

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. Courtesy ANCA

I have not found the English language equivalent of the Armenian saying, “ծուռ նստիմ բայց շիտակ խօսիմ”. “Let me sit crooked, bent, distorted, or oblique but speak right, upright or direct”. None of these words cut it. So, I am going to forgo of anything else, and go to my text.

I appreciated what Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. has said about Armenia and the Armenians of Artsakh, as a testament of his concern for Armenians, but I did not appreciate the information that the Armenian community leaders apparently provided to him, based on which he stated that he wants to commit the United States of America “to the restoration of the sovereignty of Armenia and Artsakh and to the restoration of its territory.” Aram Catholicos articulated similarly in his New Year address declaring that the “page of Artsakh is not closed to us”. 

What does these statements mean, as matters of policy to pursue? Hopefully someone will elaborate. Aram Catholicos did not. But he prioritized it in his New Year address, over the many issues that we face beginning with assisting the displaced and homeless Artsakh Armenians, all 120,000 of them.

Another issue we face is the imprisoned Armenian Artsakh officials who were abducted by Azerbaijan, taken to Baku and are languishing in prison there, along with other Armenians since Armenia’s capitulation in the 44-day second Artsakh war.

Another issue we face is the preservation of the sovereignty of Armenia over its 29,800 square kilometers, and not the restoration of any territory. On August 23, 1990 the citizens of Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia stated in their Declaration of Independence that The Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia they inherited, henceforth will be called the Republic of Armenia (Armenia). A year or so later, and on September 21, 1991, they a ratified the declaration of Independence and gave birth to the Third Republic of Armenia, which is under threat. 

Another issue we face is the economic viability of the Republic of Armenia and the curtailing the mass emigration from it, which is hemorrhaging Armenia to death.

Another issue we face is the loss of the Armenian language, history and culture, in the Diaspora.

Another issue we face is…..

And, other issues we face are the losses we incurred prior to the loss of Artsakh, the loss of Western Armenia and the Cilician Armenia.

If a straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back does not sound appropriate; how about prioritizing issues?  

Armenia is a sovereign state, but it is threatened by an unruly neighbor, Azerbaijan that aims to amputate it. Armenia does not have territorial claims over which to restore its sovereignty, including historical Artsakh. Recovering Artsakh is not an issue that living and breathing Armenians should or could prioritize to have it articulated by Catholicos Aram or brought to the attention of RFK Jr. and have him make it a priority. 

RFK is the scion of an illustrious and influential family. He is a promising political figure and a potential presidential candidate. His attentions should not divert to the “to the restoration of the sovereignty of Armenia and Artsakh and to the restoration of its territory.”, but singularily to the safeguarding the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, over its 29,800 square kilometers; and help assure the security, the safety and the prosperity of its citizens.

Courtesy ANCA