Blood is shed in Artsakh, and people are dying again. Under the pretext of alleged violations of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, a new spiral of violence is unfolding. Since the end of the second Artsakh war, the threat of a new destabilization is stronger than ever today. And even if this next surge of military confrontation can be quickly extinguished, the threat of new escalations will not disappear anywhere. It constantly hangs over Artsakh and Armenia like the “sword of Damocles.” We must admit that the Armenian leaders so far categorically lack the will and professionalism to systemically resolve the issue of Artsakh’s security.
However, behind the geopolitics. it is always necessary to see the interests of ordinary people, the people of Artsakh. It doesn’t really matter to me whose political lies will win this time. I think that the main thing now is that children grow up healthy, happy and competitive. So that they can just live – live with a sense of complete security, calmly go to school and believe in the future. It is very difficult for them now: the constant “feeling of war” destroys their lives, breaks, and cripples their destinies. The aggressive actions of the neighbour put extraordinary pressure on the residents of Artsakh, and therefore, they need our support. And I think they have the right to count on it.
The safety of the children of Artsakh is the highest priority for me and my associates. I believe it is of crucial importance to make every effort to stop at least the military escalation right now and block it for the future.
As a first step, I propose creating an All-Armenian Front for the Support of the Security and Development of Artsakh. Its legal forms and methods of organization can be discussed, but in itself such an initiative should unite the potential of civil society, the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh, political parties, the diaspora and all patriots, and all those who understand the fundamental importance of preserving the Armenian identity in Artsakh.
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A key element of security is to resolve the issue of extending the presence of Russian peacekeepers and a multiple increase in their contingent in the conflict zone, with a clear mandate to ensure the impervious security of Artsakh. This mandate needs to be fixed for a period until we are ready to fully provide security ourselves. This step will help maintain peace in the region, establish humanitarian cooperation and find a long-term balanced solution. This is what our diplomatic efforts should now be directed to. The presence of peacekeepers should give the people living in Artsakh a sense of absolute physical safety.
I want to appeal to the Armenians worldwide and all those who are not indifferent to the annihilation of human lives and the historical heritage of mankind: we need to draw the attention of the world community to the humanitarian situation in Artsakh in all possible ways. The world, preaching the value of human life and the right of peoples to free self-determination, must give the harshest assessment of Azerbaijan’s actions of destabilizing the situation.
However, no matter how important the support of Russia and the world community is for us today, we cannot, and simply have no right, to rely exclusively on the external factor. We, Armenians, in our history have too often allowed others to take control of our destiny. But no one will solve our problems for us.
It’s time to stop exploiting the Artsakh theme as a card in the game between the authorities and the opposition, it’s time to forget about personal political ambitions. This issue should not divide the Armenians; it should not become a reason for intrigues and settling scores. He can and must unite our people. We must jointly decide what state, what army, what diplomacy and other security measures Armenia and Artsakh need. Decide and start implementing immediately. Because the children of Artsakh should have the right for a full-fledged life.
Ruben Vardanyan
