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ARMENIAN 'HOMELAND' CONCEPT MIGHT AFFECT TURKEY AND GEORGIA
Trend
Nov 9 2009
Azerbaijan
Trend News European Desk Commentator Elmira Tariverdiyeva
Recent changes in the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus
have led to a dangerous trend for the region - and sharply exacerbated
Armenians' feelings of a homeland around the world.
The lesson for Azerbaijan, which has conflicted with Armenia over the
seizure of its lands for almost 20 years now, seems to have taught
little to neighboring countries.
In the late 1980s, leaders of Armenian nationalist organizations
launched plans to expand the territory of the future independent
Armenia, sensing the approach of the Soviet Union's collapse.
The Armenian diaspora ardently supported these plans - specifically,
representatives of the Dashnaktsutun party, whose activities were
banned in the Soviet era.
Recent regional developments show that Armenians throughout the
world do not restrict their territorial claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. A
new movement has launched under the slogan: "Return The Homeland to
Armenians - Despite Its Present Owners."
I would like to emphasize that the issue does not concern the claims
of the current Armenian authorities or citizens. Territorial claims
are the trump card, and the eternal banner of the Armenian diaspora
across the world, along with the issue of so-called "genocide" in 1915.
And now, the Armenian diaspora is focused on seizing land from Georgia
and Turkey.
Acclaimed singer and Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland Charles
Aznavour underscored the necessity for Turkey to return Armenia's
lands, Armenia Today reported.
"When I was born in 1924, Armenia was promised the land would be
returned," Aznavour said in an interview with the RAI 3 Italian
television channel. "I am already 85 years old and I cannot wait
any longer. In 1924, Stalin promised to return Erzurum, Erznakan,
Sebastia, Kharberd, Tigranakert, Bitlis, Van, Mush and Siirt to
Armenia. According to the Treaty of Sevres, 'Wilsonian Armenia'
also included Trapizon, Erzurum Van and Bitlis, Erzurum."
In early September, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made a statement
that the Armenian language should be declared a regional language
in Javakheti.
Afterward, Armenians living in Georgia immediately sent a letter
to the Armenian government, asking for protection from Georgians
and Azerbaijanis living in Georgia. According to the Akhali Taoba
newspaper, the letter was signed by the Armenian population in
Kvemo Kartli.
Institute of History of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences
Director Ashot Melkonyan believes Armenians in Javakheti "live on
their native land.
"Regardless of Georgia's resistance, it eventually will have to agree
that Armenians are living here on their own territory," Panarmenian
quoted the professor as saying.
The process has started and these claims will lead to concrete action.
Armenians in the diaspora will have the chance to speak about
historical injustice and this will lead to the destabilization of
the South Caucasus region.
Armenian historians and chroniclers also actively support struggles
for historical justice, arguing that the right to most lands in the
South Caucasus historically belongs to Armenians.
One should not challenge the opinion of these or other people about
historical troubles in the region. If we look at history, then we
can see that many states can push claims to various territories that
were under their domination at some period in history. If Mongolia
today would lay claim to Russian territory, as the land was under the
Tatar-Mongol yoke for 300 years, this would puzzle the international
community to say the least
One cannot deny that the "homeland" concept for Armenians living
abroad has long united their nation. This is beneficial for the
national mentality, and what Armenians refer to as their homeland is
quite a specific territory.
Even in 1914, Armenian historian Kevork Aslan in the book "Armenia and
Armenians" wrote that the "Armenians had no statehood. They are not
bound by a sense of homeland and not bound by political ties. Armenian
patriotism is associated with only a place of residence.
Over their long history, Armenians lived on the territory of many
countries, and safely remain in some of these lands. It seems that
residency in a particular nation in the Armenian consciousness means
that these territories historically belong to Armenian lands.
Although the Armenian government knows that compromises in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, opening the border with Turkey and keeping
a healthy partnership with Georgia will positively influence domestic
processes in the country, the Armenian lobby abroad will do everything
they can to maintain their leverage.
Turkey and Georgia have to fear the scenario tested by the Armenians
in Nagorno-Karabakh in the late 20th century. Armenians find their
historic homeland in any location once inhabited even partially by
Armenians, and begin to actively fight for the seizure of foreign
territories.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Trend
Nov 9 2009
Azerbaijan
Trend News European Desk Commentator Elmira Tariverdiyeva
Recent changes in the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus
have led to a dangerous trend for the region - and sharply exacerbated
Armenians' feelings of a homeland around the world.
The lesson for Azerbaijan, which has conflicted with Armenia over the
seizure of its lands for almost 20 years now, seems to have taught
little to neighboring countries.
In the late 1980s, leaders of Armenian nationalist organizations
launched plans to expand the territory of the future independent
Armenia, sensing the approach of the Soviet Union's collapse.
The Armenian diaspora ardently supported these plans - specifically,
representatives of the Dashnaktsutun party, whose activities were
banned in the Soviet era.
Recent regional developments show that Armenians throughout the
world do not restrict their territorial claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. A
new movement has launched under the slogan: "Return The Homeland to
Armenians - Despite Its Present Owners."
I would like to emphasize that the issue does not concern the claims
of the current Armenian authorities or citizens. Territorial claims
are the trump card, and the eternal banner of the Armenian diaspora
across the world, along with the issue of so-called "genocide" in 1915.
And now, the Armenian diaspora is focused on seizing land from Georgia
and Turkey.
Acclaimed singer and Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland Charles
Aznavour underscored the necessity for Turkey to return Armenia's
lands, Armenia Today reported.
"When I was born in 1924, Armenia was promised the land would be
returned," Aznavour said in an interview with the RAI 3 Italian
television channel. "I am already 85 years old and I cannot wait
any longer. In 1924, Stalin promised to return Erzurum, Erznakan,
Sebastia, Kharberd, Tigranakert, Bitlis, Van, Mush and Siirt to
Armenia. According to the Treaty of Sevres, 'Wilsonian Armenia'
also included Trapizon, Erzurum Van and Bitlis, Erzurum."
In early September, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made a statement
that the Armenian language should be declared a regional language
in Javakheti.
Afterward, Armenians living in Georgia immediately sent a letter
to the Armenian government, asking for protection from Georgians
and Azerbaijanis living in Georgia. According to the Akhali Taoba
newspaper, the letter was signed by the Armenian population in
Kvemo Kartli.
Institute of History of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences
Director Ashot Melkonyan believes Armenians in Javakheti "live on
their native land.
"Regardless of Georgia's resistance, it eventually will have to agree
that Armenians are living here on their own territory," Panarmenian
quoted the professor as saying.
The process has started and these claims will lead to concrete action.
Armenians in the diaspora will have the chance to speak about
historical injustice and this will lead to the destabilization of
the South Caucasus region.
Armenian historians and chroniclers also actively support struggles
for historical justice, arguing that the right to most lands in the
South Caucasus historically belongs to Armenians.
One should not challenge the opinion of these or other people about
historical troubles in the region. If we look at history, then we
can see that many states can push claims to various territories that
were under their domination at some period in history. If Mongolia
today would lay claim to Russian territory, as the land was under the
Tatar-Mongol yoke for 300 years, this would puzzle the international
community to say the least
One cannot deny that the "homeland" concept for Armenians living
abroad has long united their nation. This is beneficial for the
national mentality, and what Armenians refer to as their homeland is
quite a specific territory.
Even in 1914, Armenian historian Kevork Aslan in the book "Armenia and
Armenians" wrote that the "Armenians had no statehood. They are not
bound by a sense of homeland and not bound by political ties. Armenian
patriotism is associated with only a place of residence.
Over their long history, Armenians lived on the territory of many
countries, and safely remain in some of these lands. It seems that
residency in a particular nation in the Armenian consciousness means
that these territories historically belong to Armenian lands.
Although the Armenian government knows that compromises in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, opening the border with Turkey and keeping
a healthy partnership with Georgia will positively influence domestic
processes in the country, the Armenian lobby abroad will do everything
they can to maintain their leverage.
Turkey and Georgia have to fear the scenario tested by the Armenians
in Nagorno-Karabakh in the late 20th century. Armenians find their
historic homeland in any location once inhabited even partially by
Armenians, and begin to actively fight for the seizure of foreign
territories.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress