“Aravot” interlocutor is public figure Suren Sahakyan
– Mr. Sahakyan, the Artsakh Republic is being dissolved, and people are being forcibly displaced. Capitulation was forced through another attack in Artsakh; the Russian peacekeepers stationed there did not prevent the bloody developments, the international community took no action, and the Armenian authorities announced they would not intervene. What does the loss of Artsakh mean for us, what happened, and who is to blame for this situation?
– On the one hand, we have the ancient Armenian nation, which is tired of fighting for its existence, and on the other hand, the newly formed, passionate Azerbaijani nation, which has much to prove to itself and the world. The world is also in uncertainty about how to continue living. The old rules don’t work, and the new ones still need to be created.
As for Russia, for the Russian nation that has lost its way of life and for the anti-human Russian political regime, current Azerbaijan is a more suitable partner than Armenia, which surrendered from the beginning. Who would want to ally with people who are not ready to fight, who do not wish to make their own decisions and take responsibility for it? Such is the case in Armenia during Pashinyan’s rule, which failed the war and peace policies. Not only Pashinyan but the entire political field has been unable. During the war, on October 19, the non-parliamentary forces met with the RA Prime Minister. At the meeting, it was discussed about the Russian “peacekeepers” already stationed in Armenia and the possible prospect of deploying them in Artsakh. Only one force opposed that plan, arguing that there was no case when peace was established after the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in a conflict area and the war did not flare up again. I know it very well because I voiced that opinion.
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I do not justify either Russia or other countries of the world or, even more so, Azerbaijan. They carried out anti-human actions. They violated many written and unwritten international legal norms, whose implementation they were the guarantors of, based on which the world has lived and survived peacefully in recent decades. And it will come back to everyone like a boomerang. But precisely in our inaction, the whole world preferred friendship and alignment of interests with Azerbaijan. International relations are built on fragile power balances. If one pole were to attack us, then if we were ready to fight, we would receive the support of the other poles. This is how the small or weak states of the world maintain their existence. In that case, we would present ourselves as a decision-maker and a regional factor ready to take responsibility for that decision. But we chose the option of surrender and were deprived of support. The whole world is amazed by our attitude towards our rights. There has not been any other recognized state that gives up its rights so easily in the current world order.
The loss of Artsakh is devastating for Armenia. But I am not talking about territories and reduced security guarantees. Artsakh, as an area of Armenian life, was unique. There, the ethno-cultural activity of the Armenians was not disrupted by external factors in the last tens of centuries. It was the Armenian region with the best demographic indicators. It was a whole world with its language, relations, and unique culture. The Armenian people do not have such a second region.
– What is expected of Armenia, and how would you interpret Nikol Pashinyan’s statement and point of view that the attack against Artsakh aimed to draw Armenia into the war, and by not intervening, they are trying to maintain Armenia’s security? In December last year, when Artsakh was under siege, the representatives of the Armenian government announced that they would not negotiate on the Lachin Corridor, so they would not want the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” from them either. But the talk of “Zangezur Corridor” does not leave the enemy’s agenda.
- You know, I am not so afraid of the upcoming possible war as if Pashinyan’s rule continues, we will cede Armenia without any struggle. Basically, by negotiating the concept of “Western Azerbaijan” of the Azeris, Pashinyan’s government is already making the lands of Armenia controversial. If Azerbaijan has convinced the world of its non-existent rights to Artsakh for three decades, then in the case of the current spineless policy of Armenia, it will take years to formulate the rights to Armenia. You mentioned that Azerbaijan’s negotiation of the “Zangezur Corridor” tends not to leave the negotiating table empty. If we agree, they will put another concession demand on the table.
The problem is the neutralization of the Armenian political factor in the region. The goal of such a policy in Azerbaijan is to turn Armenians into an ethnic minority in the area with some dubious independence (or without it), without the possibility of having a political agenda. Pashinyan, by swallowing all those demands, does not neutralize them but brings those agendas closer to life.
The world will follow this process with interest if we do not fight for our country, interests, values, and sanctity. 1901-1909 US President Theodore Roosevelt described such behavior of the collective West as follows: “…It is a sad fact that more humane countries, striving for internal perfection, as a rule, tend to weaken towards countries with less altruistic policies. I hate and despise the false philanthropy that conditions the progress of civilization with the weakening of the spirit of war and thereby invites the underdeveloped to destroy the developed civilization.
The Azerbaijani way of living and living is anti-human. Azerbaijan will answer for this sooner or later (likely more shortly). We must prepare for that punishing sword to be ours. Then, we will become a factor. We cannot surrender ourselves to the mercy of American orphanages like an orphan somehow freed from the genocide. If Azerbaijan offers a choice in the region, either we will be in the region, or they will be, then our choice is- us.
Roza HOVHANNISYAN
“Aravot” daily, 30.09.2023
