Open letter to Mr. Donald Trump President of United States And Vladimir Putin President of Russia.
Dear Presidents
Switzerland, a free and independent Armenia has right to choose neutrality between east and west. Neither east nor west has right to tell Armenia send or not to send humanitarian squad to Syria.
Armenia should behave as a sovereign nation and not give heed to the comments of the United States or Russia. Israel, the US, Russia, Iran, and Assad do what they want. Frankly, none cares much about the response of other countries. We Armenians also have our humanitarian and ethnic interests and will pursue them. At times our interests will be congruent and at times they will differ. We expect US, Russia or any ally to recognize this reality and move forward. We will change our course and plans only if we feel they would function in the benefit of our nation and people. That should be the response of our government.
The Diaspora should rebuke the State Department in this response, as you have done. To be frank, the US has covertly and overtly functioned to topple the Assad regime and in its process collaborated with Turkey and others to, knowingly or unknowingly, support fundamental elements in Turkey the rest of the Mid-East to wreak havoc and destabilize Assad’s regime. Although a dictator, Assad seems the most fit leader for Syria at this time, a sentiment reported by Syrians themselves. Frankly, a theocratical society, as is common in the Mid-East, best functions by the leadership of a dictator. The thugs and criminals supported by the US and Turkey brought forth ISIS. In essence, the US indirectly helped create a monster that soon went out of control. As always Turkey swindles both US , Russia and NATO.
For more than six decade. The poor decisions of the US in the Mid-East are resulting the US losing dominance as a world power. Turkey, a NATO member along with Azerbaijan, have imposed the full economic embargo on Armenia and East and West are silent, as they were during first Armenian Genocide of 20th century more than a 100 years ago.
Russia, a so called Armenia’s ally, and Israel, also a US ally, supply weapons to Azerbaijan. Armenia should also to be careful in relations with neighboring Georgia, which still has tense relations with Russia. The State Department in Washington expects impoverished and blockaded Armenia to be careful doing business with having only an open border with Iran. Armenia has greatly constrained trade options.
Armenians are the most vulnerable Christian nation in that area who have been subjected to racial discrimination, massacres and a Genocide under the watch of civilized Christian nations. Now Armenians fear a second Genocide.
Respectfully,
Ishkhan Babajanian MD
USA -February 2019