The Strategy of Counterdemanding an Unfavorable Demand
Posted on August. 5. 2021
Z. S. Andrew Demirdjian PhD, Los Angeles, 2 August 2021
When the dust settled on the Second Artsakh War of 2020, it has became obvious that Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia have converged, have come together and formed a single unit in advancing their common interests of forcing Armenia to accept the ill-conceived corridor from Nakhitchevan to Azerbaijan mainland through the Syunik province.
recently by Dr. Dikran Abrahamian, the founder of Keghart.org
Such an ill-conceived plan would violate the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia by affording the two genocidal enemies, namely Turkey and Azerbaijan, a foot into the door of Armenia’s territory.
The international community will as usual adhere to their sympathetic bystanding without coming to Armenia’s rescue. Moreover, it has become apparent that Putin has betrayed Armenia in letting it be torn asunder before stopping a lopsided war.
The best way out of this predicament is to resort to what I would call the psychology of “The Strategy of Counterdemand”. Counterdemand is a demand made in response to another demand.
To appear fair and reasonable in the eyes of the world community, Armenia should indicate its willingness to approve the corridor through its territory on one condition that Turkey would also accept to let Armenia have part of the “Black Sea Silk Road Corridor”.
The Black Sea Silk Road Corridor is the route of the western Silk Road through four countries, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and Greece. The trail stretches from Meghri (Armenia) to Thessaloniki (Greece). The trajectory of the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor will extend eastwards from Armenia to China, and westwards to the ports of Mediterranean Europe and North Africa. All of the countries found in this big area would favor Armenia’s proposition of reestablishing part of the Black Sea Silk Road Corridor in return to its willingness to approve the Nakhitchvan to Azerbaijan corridor through its territory.
Otherwise, such a long corridor would be absurd to ask, but not if the demand is only from Turkey for a short corridor from Gyumri to Hopa on the Black Sea.
Without any compensation to Armenia, the world community would consider forcing Armenia to give up a corridor through its territory an act of plundering. Armenia does need the support and the pressure on the tripartite to act reasonably and not steal Armenia’s territory without giving something back to this beleaguered country, which is without a true ally.
The strategy of counterdemanding would be akin to throwing the ball into the court of the tripartite. If it works, we gain; but, if it fails, we should find other ways to protect our homeland from the plunderers scheming at the gate of Yerevan.