The recent events show that relations between Armenia and Iran have a serious potential. Problems in relations between Turkey and Iran, Azerbaijan and Iran have emerged which seem to not be solved in the upcoming years. Iran needs alternative routes and, in this case, Armenia becomes strategic direction for them. Whether how much we need it, there is no need to prove it. If we build a gas pipeline with a normal supply in our country, especially a railway, it will have a great importance for our economy. If there are enterprises with Iranian capital in Armenia and why not in Artsakh too, it will also play an important role in terms of security.
What does prevent from doing that? Many are convinced that the problem is not the lack of money, but Russia’s reaction. Perhaps it is so. But. The main idea follows the “but”. There are two ways: either to scold Russia, be annoyed with the leadership of that country, to accuse them, or to understand what the interests of the country are and to try to bring it closer through negotiations, to combine those with the interests of Armenia and Iran. Meanwhile, instead of serious analyses on Russia, we read mostly meaningless criticism or glorifying tales about Putin’s wisdom. There is no analytical mindset dealing with numbers and facts as such, there is a “criticizing” or “praising” mindset, and there is no benefit from those, except for calming down those who either love or hate Russia.
Likewise, in case of any problem. Let’s take the most painful: immigration. “Oh, everyone left, the reason is dull, illegal authorities”: the 25-year-old rhetoric is quite appropriate in the pre-election period, but in the next five years, it seems that there will be no nationwide elections. Now analysts free from any “propagandistic commitments” should speak out: how many people have left, from what social strata, where are they now, what they are doing, what opportunities are there to return them. How to organize the traditional repatriation of Diaspora representatives? In general, it seems to me that Armenia needs not a Ministry of Diaspora, which conducts many good or bad events for Diaspora Armenians, but a Ministry of Immigration and Repatriation, which will deal with the analysis of specific issues and the effectiveness of which will be measured by the solved issues.
Soviet Armenian Prime Minister Alexander Myasnikyan called Armenians living abroad for returning to their homeland, and could not provide them with justice, nor democratic or even prosperous life. But there was something that brought people to Armenia. Myasnikyan’s foresight, I think, was also that he understood that first of all the intellectuals should have been invited. And why it was (and is) especially important, we will talk about another time.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
