The topic of the second day of the first forum of the “Future Armenian” initiative was a discussion of the Armenia-Diaspora goal. Member of the expert committee, public speaker, and journalist Aram Abrahamyan presented his approaches and summarized the committee’s work. He informed that three groups of problems were discussed in the commission, on which a vote was not organized, leaving the final decision to the conference.
First group
Who is an Armenian? Regardless of blood composition, irrespective of whether he is zero percent ethnic Armenian or one hundred percent ethnic Armenian, he is a person who is ready to participate in Armenian agendas, which are different not only for the Republic of Armenia but for any Armenian schedule in general. We have 100% Armenians who do not participate in anything, and there are people of foreign nationalities who are 100% not Armenian but participate.
What is Armenia? Armenia is the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh. And that is what every Armenian considers his homeland.
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What is the Diaspora? It is not a structure that can become some representation with which Armenia, as a state, Artsakh as a state, and we Armenians, can communicate. A Diaspora is a combination of structures. These structures can eventually form a kind of network. If you ask my personal opinion, then we have the embryo of that network, where there is Armenianness, where there are Armenian traces and Armenian organizations, and an Armenian community.
In Singapore, Sao Paulo, Montreal, and wherever it is, it is naturally the Armenian Apostolic Church, which I think can be the embryo of a network structure. And the cross that we carry, again in my subjective approach, testifies to faith and being a member of some team because the majority of Armenians are baptized as children of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Second group
What does Armenia-centric mean? It means to unite around Armenian statehood, around the statehoods of Armenia and Artsakh. I specially mention the statehood of Artsakh because I say one hundred percent and ask you to believe me. If there is no Artsakh statehood, there will be no Armenian statehood. That is an axiom for me. Armenians should participate in state life, of course, broadly, to the state life of Armenia and Artsakh. It is the cultural, religious, educational, political, and economic life. The paths have been discussed, the plans have been presented to you, and you will hopefully make the right decision.
Third group
What should be done for Armenian protection? For me, it is precisely the same issue of national dignity as having an Armenian army, paying taxes in Armenia, and obeying the laws of Armenia. For everyone living in Armenia, it should be a matter of national dignity, for which no one should spare efforts; every citizen of Armenia should consider it his duty.
It is clear that there is one essential thing in all of this: it is necessary to know the place of the people who feel Armenian, who are in the Diaspora, and who are different specialists. Find out where the architect, physicist, chemist, or IT specialist is located and is ready to participate in that network.
And at the end: O Armenian people! Your only salvation, everyone says, is in unity, but in reality, it is in collective strength. Unity means thinking in the same way. We need to be a joint force, a team of diverse thinkers thinking differently, apart from the principles that I hope you will develop.”
Aram Abrahamyan gave great importance to the work that can unite. “Rightfully so, there is much talk about mutual mistrust between Armenians and our compatriots in the Diaspora. Mutual mistrust is overcome by action. When we do a job, we find the specific people and organizations that can do the job. And that joint work succeeds and breaks mistrust. And distrust is not overcome, and trust is not created just by talking,” said Mr. Abrahamyan.
Ashot HAKOBYAN
