By Appo Jabarian
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life MagazineDuring a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went on a temper tantrum against Diaspora Armenians.
When asked about the Protocols, Armenia, and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh), Mr. Erdogan said: “I believe when President Sargsyan was on an international visit, he was faced by a reaction from the Armenian Diaspora. So what he does in face of the reaction of the Diaspora is very important. If he can stand firm, and if it is the government of Armenia and not the Armenian Diaspora that is determining policy in Armenia, then I think that we can move forward. As far as we’re concerned there is no problem. But it is up to the government in Armenia.
Next, he added: “What is important and I would like to underline this, because this is perhaps the most important point is that Armenia should not allow its policies to be taken hostage by the Armenian Diaspora. It should be up to the government to carry out its policies.”
It’s all too clear that Mr. Erdogan wants to divide and conquer. The Turkish Prime Minister is working overtime to create a wedge between Armenia and its 8-million strong Diaspora.
Will the denialist Turkish leader succeed in stripping Armenia from its number one social, economic, and political ally, the Armenian Diaspora?
It was because of a strong opposition by Armenians both in the homeland and the Diaspora to the unfair terms of the Protocols, including Ankara’s demand that Armenia give up its pursuit of Artsakh’s independence, Turkey back-paddled and started to distance itself from the Artsakh issue, separating it from the normalization of diplomatic ties with Armenia.
But that should not misguide the Armenians into thinking that Turkey is doing Armenia and Armenians a favor. They are entitled to carry out the Destalinization/Deturkification process of the Armenian territories. Artsakh is the first of many steps leading to the ultimate reunification of Armenia through the establishment of Federal Republics of Armenia.
In 1921, the following Eastern Armenian provinces of Artsakh (1), Nakhitchevan (1), Gandzak (1), Javakhq (2), Ardahan (3), Kars (3), and Igdir (3) were stalinized under the infamous Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. They were carved out of Armenia of 1918 and were arbitrarily “gifted” respectively to the newly Sovietized Azerbaijan (1), Georgia (2), and Kemalist Turkey (3).
Now that the infamous Protocols are signed, Armenians in Armenia and around the world have no choice but to derail its ratification in the National Assembly. Armenia’s capitulation to unfair Turkish demands shall not be allowed to linger. Turkey should be stopped and Armenia should be saved. Otherwise, Mr. Erdogan’s obvious anxiety over the Diaspora Armenians activism will definitely multiply.
He should take no solace from the temporary support of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, acting as a proxy for the multi-national oil/gas conglomerates.
Secretary Clinton: The Oil Lady
During ’08 U.S. presidential primary election season, then candidate Hillary Clinton used to refer to then President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney as “The oilmen.”
So now, since she is eagerly catering to energy multi-national corporations’ thirst for faster profits at the expense of Armenia and Armenians, she must be called “The Oil Lady.”
On October 14, The Washington Post reported that Secretary Clinton “executed some deft diplomacy last weekend as the leaders of Turkey and Armenia signed a potentially historic deal to establish normal diplomatic relations and reopen their borders. We say ‘potentially’ because there are some big obstacles to implementing the accord, which we’ll come back to. … The rapprochement between these two nations matters to the United States for a number of reasons. It could help stabilize the volatile Caucasus region, open the way for new corridors for the export of gas and oil to the West, ease Russia’s political domination of Armenia, and remove a major irritant from U.S. relations with Turkey. The Obama administration worked diligently to promote the accord. … President Obama played a part by sidestepping a campaign promise to formally recognize the mass killing of Armenians by Turks during World War I as ‘genocide.'”
The Moscow, Europe and U.S.-based energy giants have set their eyes on the construction of their oil pipeline linking the oil and gas fields of Central Asia to Europe via Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. But why pursue it at dire consequences for Armenia and Diaspora Armenians? Why allow Turkey to exploit the opportunity by forcing Armenia to give up its demands of lands in Turkish-occupied Western Armenia; Reparations for the Turkish-executed Armenian genocide?
By abusing the political opportunity, Turkey has poured more gasoline on the fire, igniting worldwide Armenian condemnation. But who is to blame for the fact that Turkey is deeply troubled by Armenia’s Diaspora? Turkey!
