There has been a lot of talk during these three decades about “unification,” “unity,” and “turning the nation into one fist.” Usually, those who make such wonderful calls make reservations. “But I do not want to unite with these criminals, traitors, Turkish nationals, Russian nationals (the list goes on and on).
They are the enemies of the nation and the state.” The state, however, requires pragmatic approaches, especially a small state with many problems like ours. It is not about hugging or changing beliefs. I suggest a much harsher word to describe the practice: “use.” In other words, if the interests and principles of the state are formed, then everything, in particular, the opportunities of Armenians and not only Armenians to use for those purposes.
Let me give you an extremist example that many will not like. Some Armenians like Serj Tankian and listen to his songs with pleasure, while a much smaller group has read Andranik Mihranyan’s works and thinks that there are interesting ideas there. The American was protesting for Pashinyan, the Russian was protesting against Pashinyan. An emotional, over-politicized approach drives one to praise and the other to curse. While pragmatic, the state approach requires the removal of personal political likes and dislikes and use the approaches of these people, their potential to solve certain state problems. Moreover, not only the authorities can do that, but also people with any state mentality.
Recently, the first president set such an example. It is hard to imagine that he likes Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan very much, or dreamed of becoming an MP. But before the last election, he offered the former presidents to unite.
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And why not think that the potential of the Civil Contract, the ARF, the RPA, all other parties and non-governmental organizations should be used to strengthen the state? It is just necessary to filter from their activities, from the thoughts they express, to squeeze what can be useful to the state, giving the emotional and propaganda straw to the wind. Yes, the elites of those parties today want to destroy each other politically. And people who believe in those forces? Moods can be different here.
That, I repeat, does not mean giving up beliefs. On the contrary, the principles must be clear. Those who want to see Armenia as part of Russia in one way or another must patiently explain that this is not a solution, we will not benefit from it. Those who say that we should leave the CSTO, the EEU, etc., should be kindly reminded that this is a dangerous adventure. Those who think that the most important task of the state is to take revenge on the former should be explained that the state has much more important problems. I see the unification of the nation in such a dialogue.
… “Idealists” Hitler and Chamberlain plunged the world into catastrophic war. The “realist” Churchill, united with the hated Stalin, and helped end the war.
Aram Abrahamyan
