Tweet
DER GHOUGASSIAN DISCUSSES BOLIVIA'S RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Rupen Janbazian on December 9, 2014
http://armenianweekly.com/2014/12/09/der-ghougassian-discusses-bolivias-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/
Special for the Armenian Weekly
On Nov. 26, the two Houses of the Bolivian Parliament (the
Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia) unanimously approved
measures recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The resolutions express
solidarity with the Armenian cause and condemn "all denialist policy
regarding the Genocide and crimes against humanity suffered by the
Armenian nation."
Khatchik Der Ghougassian
In an exclusive interview with the Armenian Weekly, Khatchik Der
Ghougassian, professor of international relations at Universidad
de San Andres in Argentina, discussed the passage of the resolution
and outlined the potential for strengthened Armenian-South American
relations in the coming years.
***
Rupen Janbazian: The Buenos Aires-based "Agencia Prensa Armenia"
reported that on Nov. 26, 2014, the two houses of the Bolivian
Parliament unanimously approved measures to recognize the Armenian
Genocide with the approval of the Bolivian Foreign Ministry. It
is interesting that this resolution passed in Bolivia, a country
with no major Armenian population, or even any Armenian diplomatic
representation. How did this resolution come about? Was the greater
South American-Armenian community involved in any way?
Khatchik Der Ghougassian: Not only does an organized Armenian community
not exist in Bolivia, but I also doubt if there are any Armenians
actually living in the country. While there may be some Armenians
involved in business in Bolivia, it is evident that the idea for the
resolution came from the Bolivians themselves. Two members of the
Argentine-Armenian community traveled to La Paz during the last phase
of the initiative to help write the final resolution. One of them,
Roberto Malkasian, is an expert in law and, as far as I know, had a
big part in putting the resolution into words. It must be emphasized,
however, that the initiative came from the most progressive sector
of the ruling party in Bolivia, and not from Armenians. It is also
very interesting that the resolution is unique in the fact that it
emphasizes aspects of the Armenian cause that have not appeared in
similar resolutions in other countries.
R.J.: The Bolivian Parliament is dominated by political allies of
President Evo Morales, who has been in power since 2006. How does
the passage of this resolution fit into the foreign policy agenda of
President Morales and his Movement for Socialism Party?
K.D.G.: To understand the initiative and the way it fits into the
foreign policy agenda of President Morales, we have to consider the
importance of ethical considerations for small countries like Bolivia
and Uruguay in taking positions in international affairs. This sounds a
little bit naive, as foreign policy is usually based on more practical
and "material" interests. But the Movement for Socialism Party came
into power with a strong commitment for justice. For almost 500 years,
the native Bolivians were enslaved--first by Spanish conquerors, then
by the ruling elite after independence. Bolivia was and continues to
be a country rich in natural resources. For centuries, conquerors have
looted the silver of Potosi and left the population in poverty. In the
1980's, Bolivia became the first country where [U.S. President Ronald]
Reagan's so-called "war on drugs" policy was first implemented, using
the military to repress ethnic communities. It was also where, in the
1980's, the neoliberal policies of "shock therapies" were applied
for the first time, leading to further concentration of wealth and
power in the hands of a minority.
'Unfortunately, Armenian diplomacy in South America has not been as
strong as it should have been over the past decade...[when there were]
important breakthroughs in Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile.
While focusing on Moscow, Washington, and Brussels, Yerevan has
ignored the south in general and South America in particular, even
though Argentina was among the first countries where Armenia had
diplomatic representation right after independence. ... Armenia has
never considered the potential of alternative strategic alliances
with emerging powers like Brazil, or champions of human rights and
anti-imperialism such as Argentina, Uruguay, or Venezuela.'
However, Bolivia is also a country with a rich tradition of popular
uprisings and a quest for justice. Ernesto Che Guevara was killed in
Bolivia; leading guerilla figures, such as the current vice president,
Alvaro Garcia Linera, were also well-known intellectuals. Neoliberal
policies in the 1990's were particularly harmful for the people. It
was at this time that Evo Morales, a simple peasant, rose as a
representative of the emerging social protest. He was harassed and his
candidacy for presidential elections was "vetoed" by Washington. The
final episode of the privatization process came in 2003, when the
then president, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, wanted to sell Bolivia's
natural gas to a Californian firm, prompting popular protests and
what became known as the bloody "gas war," which eventually led to
the president's resignation and exile to the United States. It is this
strong alliance of progressive intellectuals and popular leaders that
came into power in 2006, when Bolivia joined the "left-turn" process
in South America, despite foreign pressure. Morales received strong
support from Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Nestor Kirchner of Argentina,
and Inacio Lula Da Silva of Brazil. Since then, not only has he been
consistent in addressing centuries-old injustices, but has also put
the country on the developmental path and sustained a principled
approach in international affairs. The ethical commitment to just
causes shapes Morales' Bolivia's identity.
Bolivia's Palace of Congress in La Paz
Following the passage of the resolution, the head of Bolivia's
Senate, Zonia Guardia Melgar, was invited to Buenos Aires by the
Argentine-Armenian community. While there, she spoke at the Saint
Gregory Church and mentioned Che Guevara as an example of commitment
to just causes, and in her interview to Prensa Armenia, gave full
support to Armenians and Kurds in their struggle.
R.J.: While relations between Turkey and Bolivia are limited,
trade volume between the 2 countries totals about $8 million. Do you
believe the passage of the resolution will affect relations between
the two countries?
K.D.G.: Actually, both Turkey and Azerbaijan have been actively
promoting investment and economic cooperation in the field of energy
and other sectors of Bolivia. Considering the lack of Armenian
diplomatic representation in the country, Turkish and Azeri activism
has been successful in lobbying in Bolivia, though this has been
based on mostly empty promises and falsifications. For example,
they have pushed to pass a resolution on the so-called "genocide"
in Khojaly [Karabagh], as they did in Mexico. However, they must have
underestimated the commitment to righteousness of the ruling party.
While it is true that Turkey has some trade with Bolivia, the volume
is actually very small. Still, it is important, considering that
Armenia has no trade whatsoever. I do not think that the resolution
will have any impact on the trade relationship of the two countries.
Moreover, the Turkish-Azeri neo-denialist strategy will probably
promise to invest even more into the country--perhaps try to buy
political will, seduce some soccer team, etc. In other words, they
will try to do more to try to show that Bolivia's real interests lie
with them, not Armenia and the Armenians.
R.J.: Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has issued a
statement commending the passage of the resolutions. What does the
recognition of the genocide mean for Armenia-Bolivia relations and
Armenia-South America relations in general?
K.D.G.: Nalbandian's statement was much appreciated in Bolivia and is
a good starting point for relations. Unfortunately, Armenian diplomacy
in South America has not been as strong as it should have been over the
past decade. During this time, there have been important breakthroughs
in Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile. While focusing on Moscow,
Washington, and Brussels, Yerevan has ignored the south in general
and South America in particular, even though Argentina was among the
first countries where Armenia had diplomatic representation right
after independence. Diplomatic protocols have always been properly
respected; however, Armenia has never considered the potential of
alternative strategic alliances with emerging powers like Brazil,
or champions of human rights and anti-imperialism such as Argentina,
Uruguay, or Venezuela.
South America has been very important for Armenia's economy, especially
when considering the Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekian, who is
the first individual investor in Armenia.
Unfortunately, Yerevan never considered the relationship as a means
to open doors in South America to look for new opportunities. While
I understand that serious material limitations may exist, I am sure
that strategic planning can overcome these limitations. The situation
has seemed to change since 2011-12. Azerbaijan has been pursuing an
aggressive diplomatic campaign, investing their petrodollars in the
social, economic, and political sectors of countries from Mexico to
Argentina, all while their representatives publically declare that
their objective is to counter-balance the presence of organized
Armenian communities in the region.
Today, Armenia has embassies in three Latin American countries,
and President [Serge] Sarkissian's visit to Argentina, Uruguay, and
Chile last July was a great success. Nevertheless, there is still a
lot that could be done. Bolivia's passage of the resolution proved
that it is possible to think outside of the box when it comes to
their foreign policy.
R.J.: Leading up to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, do
you foresee any other countries in the area taking similar steps
recognizing the genocide?
K.D.G.: It all really depends on how active Armenia's diplomacy is in
the area. There is much to capitalize on considering the important
political and juridical successes that local Armenian communities
have achieved over the years.
One thing I am sure of is that Turkey's policy of denial will be very
active in the area over the coming year, and they will surely combine
their efforts with Azerbaijan. We already see a sort of division
of labor in this respect: While Azerbaijan remains in charge of the
"hard" denial, such as questioning the historical existence of Armenia,
Ankara promotes a "softer" brand of denial, such as [President Recep
Tayyip] Erdogan's offerings of condolences of a so-called "common
suffering." Moreover, Turkish organizations, such as the Gulen
movement, which are falsely branded as humanitarian initiatives,
are very actively penetrating civil society and promoting a false
image of a tolerant Ottoman past with important investments in the
educational field. While the relations between the Gulen movement
and the ruling party seem to have been turbulent in recent days,
they are both actively working to deny the Armenian Genocide.
http://armenianweekly.com/2014/12/09/der-ghougassian-discusses-bolivias-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/
By Rupen Janbazian on December 9, 2014
http://armenianweekly.com/2014/12/09/der-ghougassian-discusses-bolivias-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/
Special for the Armenian Weekly
On Nov. 26, the two Houses of the Bolivian Parliament (the
Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia) unanimously approved
measures recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The resolutions express
solidarity with the Armenian cause and condemn "all denialist policy
regarding the Genocide and crimes against humanity suffered by the
Armenian nation."
Khatchik Der Ghougassian
In an exclusive interview with the Armenian Weekly, Khatchik Der
Ghougassian, professor of international relations at Universidad
de San Andres in Argentina, discussed the passage of the resolution
and outlined the potential for strengthened Armenian-South American
relations in the coming years.
***
Rupen Janbazian: The Buenos Aires-based "Agencia Prensa Armenia"
reported that on Nov. 26, 2014, the two houses of the Bolivian
Parliament unanimously approved measures to recognize the Armenian
Genocide with the approval of the Bolivian Foreign Ministry. It
is interesting that this resolution passed in Bolivia, a country
with no major Armenian population, or even any Armenian diplomatic
representation. How did this resolution come about? Was the greater
South American-Armenian community involved in any way?
Khatchik Der Ghougassian: Not only does an organized Armenian community
not exist in Bolivia, but I also doubt if there are any Armenians
actually living in the country. While there may be some Armenians
involved in business in Bolivia, it is evident that the idea for the
resolution came from the Bolivians themselves. Two members of the
Argentine-Armenian community traveled to La Paz during the last phase
of the initiative to help write the final resolution. One of them,
Roberto Malkasian, is an expert in law and, as far as I know, had a
big part in putting the resolution into words. It must be emphasized,
however, that the initiative came from the most progressive sector
of the ruling party in Bolivia, and not from Armenians. It is also
very interesting that the resolution is unique in the fact that it
emphasizes aspects of the Armenian cause that have not appeared in
similar resolutions in other countries.
R.J.: The Bolivian Parliament is dominated by political allies of
President Evo Morales, who has been in power since 2006. How does
the passage of this resolution fit into the foreign policy agenda of
President Morales and his Movement for Socialism Party?
K.D.G.: To understand the initiative and the way it fits into the
foreign policy agenda of President Morales, we have to consider the
importance of ethical considerations for small countries like Bolivia
and Uruguay in taking positions in international affairs. This sounds a
little bit naive, as foreign policy is usually based on more practical
and "material" interests. But the Movement for Socialism Party came
into power with a strong commitment for justice. For almost 500 years,
the native Bolivians were enslaved--first by Spanish conquerors, then
by the ruling elite after independence. Bolivia was and continues to
be a country rich in natural resources. For centuries, conquerors have
looted the silver of Potosi and left the population in poverty. In the
1980's, Bolivia became the first country where [U.S. President Ronald]
Reagan's so-called "war on drugs" policy was first implemented, using
the military to repress ethnic communities. It was also where, in the
1980's, the neoliberal policies of "shock therapies" were applied
for the first time, leading to further concentration of wealth and
power in the hands of a minority.
'Unfortunately, Armenian diplomacy in South America has not been as
strong as it should have been over the past decade...[when there were]
important breakthroughs in Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile.
While focusing on Moscow, Washington, and Brussels, Yerevan has
ignored the south in general and South America in particular, even
though Argentina was among the first countries where Armenia had
diplomatic representation right after independence. ... Armenia has
never considered the potential of alternative strategic alliances
with emerging powers like Brazil, or champions of human rights and
anti-imperialism such as Argentina, Uruguay, or Venezuela.'
However, Bolivia is also a country with a rich tradition of popular
uprisings and a quest for justice. Ernesto Che Guevara was killed in
Bolivia; leading guerilla figures, such as the current vice president,
Alvaro Garcia Linera, were also well-known intellectuals. Neoliberal
policies in the 1990's were particularly harmful for the people. It
was at this time that Evo Morales, a simple peasant, rose as a
representative of the emerging social protest. He was harassed and his
candidacy for presidential elections was "vetoed" by Washington. The
final episode of the privatization process came in 2003, when the
then president, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, wanted to sell Bolivia's
natural gas to a Californian firm, prompting popular protests and
what became known as the bloody "gas war," which eventually led to
the president's resignation and exile to the United States. It is this
strong alliance of progressive intellectuals and popular leaders that
came into power in 2006, when Bolivia joined the "left-turn" process
in South America, despite foreign pressure. Morales received strong
support from Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Nestor Kirchner of Argentina,
and Inacio Lula Da Silva of Brazil. Since then, not only has he been
consistent in addressing centuries-old injustices, but has also put
the country on the developmental path and sustained a principled
approach in international affairs. The ethical commitment to just
causes shapes Morales' Bolivia's identity.
Bolivia's Palace of Congress in La Paz
Following the passage of the resolution, the head of Bolivia's
Senate, Zonia Guardia Melgar, was invited to Buenos Aires by the
Argentine-Armenian community. While there, she spoke at the Saint
Gregory Church and mentioned Che Guevara as an example of commitment
to just causes, and in her interview to Prensa Armenia, gave full
support to Armenians and Kurds in their struggle.
R.J.: While relations between Turkey and Bolivia are limited,
trade volume between the 2 countries totals about $8 million. Do you
believe the passage of the resolution will affect relations between
the two countries?
K.D.G.: Actually, both Turkey and Azerbaijan have been actively
promoting investment and economic cooperation in the field of energy
and other sectors of Bolivia. Considering the lack of Armenian
diplomatic representation in the country, Turkish and Azeri activism
has been successful in lobbying in Bolivia, though this has been
based on mostly empty promises and falsifications. For example,
they have pushed to pass a resolution on the so-called "genocide"
in Khojaly [Karabagh], as they did in Mexico. However, they must have
underestimated the commitment to righteousness of the ruling party.
While it is true that Turkey has some trade with Bolivia, the volume
is actually very small. Still, it is important, considering that
Armenia has no trade whatsoever. I do not think that the resolution
will have any impact on the trade relationship of the two countries.
Moreover, the Turkish-Azeri neo-denialist strategy will probably
promise to invest even more into the country--perhaps try to buy
political will, seduce some soccer team, etc. In other words, they
will try to do more to try to show that Bolivia's real interests lie
with them, not Armenia and the Armenians.
R.J.: Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has issued a
statement commending the passage of the resolutions. What does the
recognition of the genocide mean for Armenia-Bolivia relations and
Armenia-South America relations in general?
K.D.G.: Nalbandian's statement was much appreciated in Bolivia and is
a good starting point for relations. Unfortunately, Armenian diplomacy
in South America has not been as strong as it should have been over the
past decade. During this time, there have been important breakthroughs
in Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile. While focusing on Moscow,
Washington, and Brussels, Yerevan has ignored the south in general
and South America in particular, even though Argentina was among the
first countries where Armenia had diplomatic representation right
after independence. Diplomatic protocols have always been properly
respected; however, Armenia has never considered the potential of
alternative strategic alliances with emerging powers like Brazil,
or champions of human rights and anti-imperialism such as Argentina,
Uruguay, or Venezuela.
South America has been very important for Armenia's economy, especially
when considering the Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekian, who is
the first individual investor in Armenia.
Unfortunately, Yerevan never considered the relationship as a means
to open doors in South America to look for new opportunities. While
I understand that serious material limitations may exist, I am sure
that strategic planning can overcome these limitations. The situation
has seemed to change since 2011-12. Azerbaijan has been pursuing an
aggressive diplomatic campaign, investing their petrodollars in the
social, economic, and political sectors of countries from Mexico to
Argentina, all while their representatives publically declare that
their objective is to counter-balance the presence of organized
Armenian communities in the region.
Today, Armenia has embassies in three Latin American countries,
and President [Serge] Sarkissian's visit to Argentina, Uruguay, and
Chile last July was a great success. Nevertheless, there is still a
lot that could be done. Bolivia's passage of the resolution proved
that it is possible to think outside of the box when it comes to
their foreign policy.
R.J.: Leading up to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, do
you foresee any other countries in the area taking similar steps
recognizing the genocide?
K.D.G.: It all really depends on how active Armenia's diplomacy is in
the area. There is much to capitalize on considering the important
political and juridical successes that local Armenian communities
have achieved over the years.
One thing I am sure of is that Turkey's policy of denial will be very
active in the area over the coming year, and they will surely combine
their efforts with Azerbaijan. We already see a sort of division
of labor in this respect: While Azerbaijan remains in charge of the
"hard" denial, such as questioning the historical existence of Armenia,
Ankara promotes a "softer" brand of denial, such as [President Recep
Tayyip] Erdogan's offerings of condolences of a so-called "common
suffering." Moreover, Turkish organizations, such as the Gulen
movement, which are falsely branded as humanitarian initiatives,
are very actively penetrating civil society and promoting a false
image of a tolerant Ottoman past with important investments in the
educational field. While the relations between the Gulen movement
and the ruling party seem to have been turbulent in recent days,
they are both actively working to deny the Armenian Genocide.
http://armenianweekly.com/2014/12/09/der-ghougassian-discusses-bolivias-recognition-of-the-armenian-genocide/