Under the influence of the government’s propaganda, one says: “What do we have to do with the people of Karabakh? Let them solve their problems?” Such persons not only do not have a state mentality, but they also do not have any mentality, and even more, an instinct for self-defense. To those people, we can ask: what do we have to do with the Armenians who died in Western Armenia more than a hundred years ago? Why do we go to Tsitsernakaberd every year on April 24?
What do we have to do with the tortured Armenians in Sumgait and Baku? Wasn’t it all happening in other states? And ours is 29.8 thousand square kilometers. When it comes to driving us from those 29.8 thousand kilometers (and if it continues like this, it will happen sooner or later, Jermuk, Shorzha, and the rest are witnesses), then we will go to our friends, Russians or Americans. Somewhere we will open kebab shops named “Yerevan” and “Gyumri” in Chelyabinsk or Glendale.
Can you imagine that in 1988 someone’s tongue would be rolling in, asking what are we doing? Such an approach would not be acceptable to anyone, from the first secretary of the Central Committee to the strange characters wandering in Freedom Square. Each of them said the same thing in their way, within the framework of their ideas: Artsakh is a part of our life, and we are responsible for the life, health, and well-being of our compatriots.
I continue to think so. Many changed minds due to the Karabakh question in these 34 years. Many newer generations have also settled into today’s official “we don’t deal with it” doctrine.
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To the question of “what to do,” I used to come over many times. I cannot answer that question posed in a general way. The government, politicians, deputies – everyone has their work to do—people of other occupations, professions, their own. As a journalist, I imagine what I do (if it’s interesting, I’ll tell you about it one day).
But more than what we do is needed. Our activities, wherever we work, should be more Artsakh-centric. It does not mean that every second word we say should be “Artsakh.” That means under any circumstances, when the question reaches national issues, let’s not say: “we have nothing to do with it.”
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
