BY PATRICK AZADIAN
Come and take it, we can’t deal with this any more! This was supposedly the message in Zori Balayan’s letter to President Putin of Russia on the issue of Karabakh. Apparently, Mr. Balayan has suggested that based on the Treaty of Gulistan, Russia is the rightful owner of the de facto Armenian republic of Karabakh. Interestingly, since this ‘news’ hit the Armenian media outlets, Balayan has rejected the notion of offering Karabakh to Russia.
Karabakh’s unification with Russia is a radical idea that should raise some very thick eyebrows in the region.
It is difficult to go through all the permutations of who meant what, but either Mr. Balayan did suggest this idea himself or some people took his attempt to remind President Putin that Russia should own up to its historical responsibilities in the region and twisted the spirit of the letter to serve their own narrow personal interests.
Regardless of whether anyone takes the idea seriously, we can’t just dismiss the sentiment. The urge of handing over everything Armenian to Russia is a real and present danger for the Armenian people.
Let’s pretend for a moment that Mr. Balayan was in favor of such an anti-Armenian proposal. Why would an Armenian patriot born in Karabakh suggest the handover of his motherland to Russia on a silver platter? I can only think of two general possibilities. Either he was under the influence of tti oghi (mulberry vodka) or he genuinely thought this was in the best interest of the Armenian people.
I suggest Mr. Balayan was as sober as a God-fearing mullah from Qum when he wrote the letter. You see, I know this because I am a diasporan Armenian and have felt the effects of vodka combined with patriotism. Drinking produces Dutch courage, not meekness and treason. If Mr. Balayan was in fact under the influence of mulberry vodka, his letter would have been something like this: “Dear Mr. Erdogan, we are coming to take Western Armenia. Dear Mr. Saakashvili, Akhalkalak is ours. And you, Mr. Aliyev, Nakhichevan is our next Karabakh. War on all fronts, at any expense!”
Now that we are certain that Mr. Balayan wasn’t drinking, the next possible question is what could have he been thinking to prompt such a letter? I have to assume that with someone of his legacy, he was thinking this would be the best option for the Armenian people. There are a few scenarios that may have passed through his mind.
Here is the most unlikely scenario: Russia takes Karabakh; Russia turns around and gives it to Armenia. This scenario needs no discussion but I’ll entertain the idea briefly because it has been suggested by some.
If Russia takes Karabakh, it is not guaranteed that there will be no backroom deals with Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure that Karabakh is not annexed to Armenia. There is also no assurance that Russia will not hand it over to the Azeris in exchange for major concessions from Turkey and Azerbaijan.
History suggests that a handover of Karabakh to Azerbaijan by Russia is not out of question. It has happened once already. It was under the auspices of Soviet Russia that Nakhichevan and Karabakh were included in the territories of Soviet Azerbaijan. It was the same big brother that also facilitated the transfer of Kars and Ardahan to Turkey. One could argue that this was a different Russia – the Godless kind. What’s more terrifying is that the Godless big brother’s record is actually better than the churchgoing one when it comes to the Armenians. At least on paper, Soviets believed in brotherhood of nations and under their rule Armenia and Armenians prospered in certain realms. Back then, we were known as the more progressive peoples of the empire. Now, Russia views us as the backward South Caucasians.
Next comes the scenario of Russia taking Karabakh, keeping it and making it a paradise where Armenians live happily ever after. Take one look at how Russia treats its own provinces and ‘autonomous’ republics and it is not difficult to see that this scenario is as naïve as the last.
I can’t imagine Mr. Balayan is naïve enough to believe in any of the above-mentioned scenarios. Thus, I have to conclude that there are elements in the Armenian society that want the transfer of Karabakh to Russia. First, to rid themselves of the Karabakh problem and perhaps benefit financially from Russia’s further exploitation of the region.
Which brings us to a final scenario that could not have been Mr. Balayan’s brainchild. Russia takes Karabakh and sucks the blood out of it natural resources. In the process, Armenia avoids the Azeri (and Turkish) threat while some Armenians pad their pockets with Russian-Armenian joint ventures.
Here, we come full circle to the following question: Why does the price of security and prosperity have to be slavery and servitude to Russia?
The common thread in all of these scenarios is the assumption that Armenians cannot govern and protect themselves. Mr. Balayan’s letter has brought to surface this type of slave mentality and love for greed that exists among some Armenians.
* * *
Every nation suffers from some national illnesses. We have our own share. Not taking responsibility for our own long-term future must be on the top of this list, right there with illusions of grandeur, infatuation with symbolic victories, and our vintage pack up and leave mentality from almost every place on Earth where we encounter difficulties and challenges.
Perhaps, Mr. Balayan is aware of these national maladies and feels he must choose between the least of two evils before it’s too late. But it is difficult to believe that the Armenian people have been left with no other alternatives than selling off everything to Russia. Some ex-Soviet republics are trying to crave out an independent path for themselves. Why can’t Armenians entertain such a path even if we were to recognize Russia’s supremacy in the region?
Have we exhausted all other alternatives? What have we (I include Diaspora and Armenia in the ‘we’) done with Karabakh since its liberation? What are we doing with Armenia’s potential?
* * *
Despite our national ailments, we have managed to experience some miracles in recent history as well. We are respected for our spirit of survival and entrepreneurship. After just about 600 years of statelessness and immediately after the trauma of the Genocide, we managed to declare a republic in 1918. Regardless of the circumstances, that was no small feat. In retrospect, that was a miracle, which lead to our newly gained independence, to our youthful and fragile Armenia – yet another miracle. Who would have bet on the Armenians emerging victorious against the Azeris in the Karabakh war? And on a much smaller scale, who would have put money on the Armenian national soccer team giving the four-time world cup winners Italy in Napoli a scare few weeks ago (the game ended 2-2. Maladetz tgherk!)?
So perhaps, we do have the potential to take our rightful place among other nations as a living, breathing culture with our dignity intact. Maybe there is a possibility to maintain some self-respect while trying to carve out an independent path that ensures the survival and growth of our culture on our ancestral lands (emphasis on the lands we already have).
Maybe it’s time to take responsibility for our destiny and recognize the resources that we do and do not have.
As a people we don’t do realistic with a hint of idealism well enough. We are heavy on utopianism with a rare splash of practicality. We are addicted to symbolic causes and we have forgotten how to think about practical, long-term solutions that improve our chances of national progress.
Thank you, Mr. Balayan for bringing to surface our national maladies and exposing the sell-out elements of our society, even if you didn’t mean it.
Bolshoe spasibo, Mr. Balayan. Blagodaryu!
It’ll be a cold day in hell when Armenians finally wake up from their political illiteracy.
Unlike his naysayers (i.e. armchair generals in the Diaspora and Western funded opposition freaks in Armenia) Zori Balayan is a genuine patriot and a man worthy of respect. Zori did not call for turning Artsakh over to Russia. Zori is calling on Russia to remember the region’s history and assume responsibility to settle the festering matter in Armenia’s benefit. With the south Caucasus coming back under the Bear influence, farsighted men like Zori are simply trying to prepare the field in Armenia benefit.
Had Armenians like Patrick Azadian and “nationalist” nutjobs posing as Dashnaks in the US actually made time to organize pro-Armenian lobbying effort within the walls of the Kremlin instead of wasting time writing nonsense and spreading fear, we may indeed begin seeing some positive results in Armenia.
But, Armenians will be Armenians (i.e. obsessive, emotionally unstable, destructive and political ignorant).
God bless Russia. God bless Armenia. And may God help protect the centuries long Russian-Armenian alliance from all enemies both foreign and domestic.
Thank you for pointing out the “slave mentality” I’ve been referring to. It seems that Russia and the fanatic Russophiles in Armenia have been successful in convincing people that the only way to salvation is by selling every aspect of ourselves, from factories, to production, to cell phones, to whatever else to Russia. Now they’re even toying with the idea of sovereignty. It’ll take a bloody revolution to rid Armenia of the criminals, hypocrites and ignorant thieves that “run” Armenia through the backdrop of Russia, otherwise, this self-destructive path will allow the Turks and Azeris to calmly walk into Armenia, just like that. The clock is ticking…………
What would Russia gain by allowing Armenia to be overrun by hostile Turks? The answer to this question alone is enough to calm the nerves of anyone who believes Armenia is unimportant for the Russians. If they lose Armenia they lose the S. Caucasus, and if they lose the SC then the Russian N. Caucasus is the next logical area Russia will lose, but it is even worse since it is piece of the Russian Federation.
Armenian needs Russia’s help in dealing with Karabakh and Azerbajian. Azerbajian seems to have grown both financially and militarily andArmenia will not be able to deal with the problem of Karabakh much longer
Oh please, the sultan of baku and his minions have raped their fiefdom of billions of dollars over the course of the past 15 years. While azerbaijan has purchased some advanced weaponry, they’re armed forces are still weak in spirit/morale, undisciplined, corrupt, and planning on fighting an uphill battle (literally). Moreover, now that azerbaijani oil has peaked, their economy will become more dependent on the strategically less important natural gas reserves of the Caspian. Dutch disease is another highly probable issue that the sultan must contend with in the coming years.
Anti-Armenian propaganda (brainwashing) in Asserbaijan seems to have risen their morale in the last years. Also, we (Armenia) are plagued by depopulation (“emigration”). Asserbaijan gets weaponry from both Jurkey and pIsrael, so it would be a huge mistake to underestimate them. 🙁
A RESPONSIBLE AND PETROTIC PERSON NEVER ASKS FOREIGN COUNTRY OR LEADER TO COME AND SAVE THEM. THIS IS EXACTLYU SAME SLAVE MENTALITY WHICH NEVER END IN SOME ARMENIAN THINK PROCESS. MR BALAYAN IS OLD HE NEEDS SANCTUARY FOR RETIRMENT. HE IS FINISHED .HE MIND IS NOT CLEAR. HE IS KISSING RUSSAN ASS FOR NO REASEN. HE IS CAPITULATED HE IS SAME FOR ARSAKH PEOPLE. HE IS NOT A MTAVORAKAN HE BETTER TAKE HIS WORDS BACK .
I have a better solution. Russian Federation used to be part of the Russian Empire that signed the Treaty. Artsakh used to be part of that Empire too. All we need is to find a descendant of the throne willing to come back and be the Emperor/Empress of Russian Empire in Artsakh.
Russian Federation will than have a choice to join Artsakh and become part of the resurrected Russian Empire or stay independent.
Think about it – all the claims of separatist Azeri Turks would be gone as their Sultanate was also part of the internationally recognized territory of the Russian Empire but broke the law of the land and seceded.
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME POLITITIANS.bUT IF IT COMES TO WAR WHO FROM YOU WILL GO TO FIGHT TO PROTECT ARTSAKH?
Not me.. I’m a keyboard warrior >:D
To begin with, Balayan’s move and his supporters reflect the fact that politically they are graded as failures. The historical fact that Nakhichevan, Zankezour and Artsakh were militarily under the command of Karekin Njteh and that the Bolsheviks, and in particular Anasdas Migoyan, recommended and offered this trinity to become under the Soviet Azerbayjan Republic due to the weak status of Armenia then after the genocide. Njteh considered this degrading and kept on fighting without any support from the central authorities. He could defend Zankezour only and where he established the first Armenian Independent Republic with its own independent flag and that he could hold for a few months only after which, and after tough negotiations remained an integral part of Soviet Armenia. This is how Nakhichevan has become isolated from the Azeri then Soviet Republic. Migoyan, maintaining his loyalty with the Russian revolution, and upholding the interest of the revolution, was also the promoter of emptying Kars, Ardahan, Surmalu without allowing the people to shoot one bullet and for which he offered refuge for some 50,000 Armenians within Russian territories. Armenians should have learned history better, much more Kevork Nazarian in his speech at ‘Hay Tadi Kidajoghov’should have made historical facts clear to his audience . Zori Balayan cannot be commended on his letter on his own initiative and in particular that it does not have any value officially. This is how immature we are politically where we have not even learned how to proceed within management avenues.
First I have to salute my old freind Patrick from Sacramento, it seems he has same views as 30 years ago, and that is respectable to me. But he needlessly is atacking our war heros for their views, if by the chance we had 100 Balayans, we could have made better progress then and we wouldn’t have turned victory in the war into defeat over negotiations and peace talks
“Dear Mr. Erdogan, we are coming to take Western Armenia. Dear Mr. Saakashvili, Akhalkalak is ours. And you, Mr. Aliyev, Nakhichevan is our next Karabakh. War on all fronts, at any expense!”
While keeping this idea, it seems Armenia will suffer economically and politically for decades…