To whom this may concern: Diaspora in disarray

Vaհe H Apelian 

The all-knowing AI says, "To whom it may concern" is a formal, somewhat impersonal greeting used in letters or emails when the writer doesn't know the recipient's name or title, or when the correspondence is addressed to a general audience rather than a specific individual.” Although I had a few Diaspora friends in mind, whose postings Facebook alerts me, but this blog is not meant to be personal. I see no reason to disturb my tranquility over the disarray of the Diaspora, but I simply wanted to share my concerns with those who happen to be reading this blog and for whom the state of Diaspora concerns as well. 

RIDICULING THE PM. Obviously, you may have realized that I am referring to the above picture and to those who have been disseminating the picture that has been going viral among certain segments of the Armenian social media. What makes the phenomenon more surprising to me is  that some those, who resorted to disseminating this depiction of the PM of Armenia with their colorful comments, are Diaspora Armenians some of whom are affiliated with Armenian Diaspora newsletters or have been presented as present day intellectual.

Why do persons resort to posting such pictures of others, be it the PM of Armenia in a far distant land,  but not of themselves?

A person does not need to be a psychologist or psychiatrist to know that it is very human to present oneself in a manner that society is prone to accept with more of open arms. Children are taught to smile when they have their pictures taken. When a group picture, be of adults, is taken, it is not uncommon to hear from the person who will be doing the clicking to take the snap shot for posterity, alert the group by saying out loud, “Cheers!”. 

The message, those who post this depiction from Diaspora, mean to convey is simply this. They mean to say, this is how crazy the prime minister, the citizens of Armenia elected is. No one can possibly expect anything of value coming from the policies of such a man. He must go. 

Common courtesy would have expected them to place a more presentable picture of the PM, or  even his official picture and next to it verbalize the points they want to make about the PM's policies .

GOING SOLO: On February 28, 2025, the foreign minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan brought the plight, and the sham trial of the Armenian hostages and prisoners to the attention of the world. Thus, the government of Armenia has given the green light for the Armenian ambassadors to pursue through diplomatic channels securing their release. 

But even when dealing with a national catastrophe of this magnitude the Diaspora is fragmented.  Yesterday, I read that David Vardanyan the son of the Armenian political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan will speak at AAAinc’s - Armenian Aseembly of America’s In.- spring 2025 Advocacy Summit. Will I read soon that a family member of David Ishkhanian will address ANCA’s advocacy summit?

If (western) Diaspora intends to be more effective trying to secure the release of the Armenian hostages and prisoners held in the Diaspora, it will have to stand with the Republic of Armenia and with ONE voice.

STIRRING THE DIASPORA POT – The former FM Vartan Oskanian, appears to be on a mission to stir the Diaspora pot against Nikol Pashinyan government the citizens of Armenia have elected in a transparent, orderly, democratic election whose legitimacy was unanimously ruled by the Armenian Constitutional Court. 

 I saw him in a Hye Tahd forum in Europe claiming that they worked together for the benefit of Armenia! He was listed among the experts the Catholicos Aram had invited regarding the plight of the Artsakh Armenians, he claims the government of RoA is its main obstacle. During the last few months, he has been posting commentaries in his impeccable English addressing the Diaspora to stand against the PM Nikol Pashinyan. Surprisingly Diaspora newspapers make room for it, 

He calls the Diaspora to oust the PM of Armenia. He knows full well Diaspora Armenians do not vote. But that matters not for the former FM of Armenia.

Forget the loss of dignity, he claims. Yes indeed the security of Armenia is at stake. Without security and with Armenia at another military loss and departed from its southern region, there is not much room left for claiming loss of dignity.

But the security of the Republic of Armenia is at stake not for reasons he charges the (western) Diaspora, but for the kind of Armenian leadership he exemplifies.