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Armenia's Diaspora played minor role in Artsakh movement - Sargis Hatspanyan
14:28 * 22.02.15
Public and political figure Sargis Hatspanyan, as an Armenia Diaspora
representative, talked to Tert.am about the Armenian Diaspora's role
in both the Artsakh liberation movement and Armenia's revival.
Mr Hatspanyan, you are one of the few Armenian Diaspora
representatives who decided to join the Artsakh movement. What made
you come to the homeland to join the movement and, later, take part in
the war for Artsakh's freedom?
When people rose in Armenia, we, in Paris, were holding rallies in
front of the Soviet embassy. But when volunteers were urged to go to
Artsakh, I saw no one was willing to. I was surprised because it
showed Armenian Diaspora's true worth. Years later we knew that just a
few diasporic Armenians took part in the battles. If we speak of seven
million Armenians throughout the world at that time, but only a few of
then went to war, and comment is superfluous. But I felt
disappointment in Armenia, not in the Diaspora because I had been very
enthusiastic about all the people rising in Armenia. It was an
unprecedented situation on a global scale - almost a third of a
country's population kept on standing for weeks, which, regrettably,
was followed by Azerbaijan-unleashed war, and our best guys went to
war and could liberate a small part of our homeland.
Mr Hatspanyan, do you think we are overestimating the Armenian Diaspora's role?
The Armenian Diaspora's role in both the Artsakh liberation movement
and Armenia's revival is a minor one. Of course, there are reasons for
that, and I have repeatedly cited them. Armenians who scattered round
the world after the Armenian Genocide have always dreamt of free,
independent and united Armenia. After Armenian gained independence, it
was expected to be appreciated, but it was not. The Armenian Diaspora
has now shown its true worth - of course, I am speaking generally -
some people there are really patriotic and I cannot reproach them in
any way because they did their best. But I can cite an example: the
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was established simultaneously with the
declaration of the Republic of Armenia. The fund released a report on
its activities for 1992-2002. The globally raised funds totaled US $61
million. And if you share US $61million between seven million people
during ten years, it does not even make US $1 per capita. This is an
answer to your question.
And if one member of each family in the Armenian Diaspora settled down
in Armenia, this country would be brilliant in all the areas of life.
Armenia should have been appreciated due to its resident population,
which has never taken place. On the contrary, it is diasporic
Armenians that met Armenians arriving from Armenia at the airports.
Mr Hatspanyan, what keeps diasporic Armenians from settling down in Armenia?
I cannot say. I have met many of political forces here that, instead
of helping repatriates settle down in Armenia kept on criticizing
Armenia, while their fellow countrymen were defending the border. To
put an end to this criticism I take diasporic Armenians who come with
me to the Yerablur pantheon and tell them that the best sons of our
nation are buried there. And they remain silent because they cannot
say anything.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/02/22/hacpanyan/1596983
From: Baghdasarian
14:28 * 22.02.15
Public and political figure Sargis Hatspanyan, as an Armenia Diaspora
representative, talked to Tert.am about the Armenian Diaspora's role
in both the Artsakh liberation movement and Armenia's revival.
Mr Hatspanyan, you are one of the few Armenian Diaspora
representatives who decided to join the Artsakh movement. What made
you come to the homeland to join the movement and, later, take part in
the war for Artsakh's freedom?
When people rose in Armenia, we, in Paris, were holding rallies in
front of the Soviet embassy. But when volunteers were urged to go to
Artsakh, I saw no one was willing to. I was surprised because it
showed Armenian Diaspora's true worth. Years later we knew that just a
few diasporic Armenians took part in the battles. If we speak of seven
million Armenians throughout the world at that time, but only a few of
then went to war, and comment is superfluous. But I felt
disappointment in Armenia, not in the Diaspora because I had been very
enthusiastic about all the people rising in Armenia. It was an
unprecedented situation on a global scale - almost a third of a
country's population kept on standing for weeks, which, regrettably,
was followed by Azerbaijan-unleashed war, and our best guys went to
war and could liberate a small part of our homeland.
Mr Hatspanyan, do you think we are overestimating the Armenian Diaspora's role?
The Armenian Diaspora's role in both the Artsakh liberation movement
and Armenia's revival is a minor one. Of course, there are reasons for
that, and I have repeatedly cited them. Armenians who scattered round
the world after the Armenian Genocide have always dreamt of free,
independent and united Armenia. After Armenian gained independence, it
was expected to be appreciated, but it was not. The Armenian Diaspora
has now shown its true worth - of course, I am speaking generally -
some people there are really patriotic and I cannot reproach them in
any way because they did their best. But I can cite an example: the
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was established simultaneously with the
declaration of the Republic of Armenia. The fund released a report on
its activities for 1992-2002. The globally raised funds totaled US $61
million. And if you share US $61million between seven million people
during ten years, it does not even make US $1 per capita. This is an
answer to your question.
And if one member of each family in the Armenian Diaspora settled down
in Armenia, this country would be brilliant in all the areas of life.
Armenia should have been appreciated due to its resident population,
which has never taken place. On the contrary, it is diasporic
Armenians that met Armenians arriving from Armenia at the airports.
Mr Hatspanyan, what keeps diasporic Armenians from settling down in Armenia?
I cannot say. I have met many of political forces here that, instead
of helping repatriates settle down in Armenia kept on criticizing
Armenia, while their fellow countrymen were defending the border. To
put an end to this criticism I take diasporic Armenians who come with
me to the Yerablur pantheon and tell them that the best sons of our
nation are buried there. And they remain silent because they cannot
say anything.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/02/22/hacpanyan/1596983
From: Baghdasarian