It turns out that peace has supposedly been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In other words, the document initialed on August 8 is being presented as the basis for a solid and lasting peace. But are there really any prerequisites for such peace?
To answer this, we need to ask: with which country have we “established peace”? With a country that destroys our churches, memorials, and cemeteries in Artsakh on a daily basis. With a country where hatred toward Armenians has been instilled since kindergarten. With a country that continues to hold our prisoners despite the Trump–Pashinyan–Aliyev declaration, which states that “the leaders have rejected any attempt at revenge, both in the past and in the future.” What is holding prisoners, if not an act of revenge?
We have “established peace” with a country that occupies Armenia’s sovereign territory and has never declared that it will withdraw “as a result of the demarcation of the border.” A country that has given no written guarantee of providing Armenia with “unhindered” transit routes to Russia and Iran—unless, of course, some secret protocols were signed in Washington.
We have “established peace” with a country that demands, as a precondition, changes to our Constitution, despite the fact that the initialed document itself includes a clause on non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. And with a country that officially calls Armenia “Western Azerbaijan.”
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All this makes it clear that Azerbaijan does not seek a real, lasting peace. However, even a year without escalation (which is quite likely) will give Pashinyan the chance to reproduce himself politically, constantly repeating the narrative: “The beloved people want peace, while the malicious oppositionists serving Russia are standing in the way. If they return to power, there will be war.”
But most importantly: without internal, intra-Armenian peace, it is impossible to establish “external” peace with neighbors. Only a united society can live in peace. Meanwhile, Pashinyan almost daily does something to antagonize people and set them against each other.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
