Armenia needs to diversify its foreign alliances in order to become an advanced sovereign state
Posted on October. 28. 2021
BY APPO JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine (English-language print edition)
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Currently there are many indications that Armenia is becoming well-positioned to reap huge economic benefits from a new rapprochement between the United States/European Union and Iran.
There are ample signals about a potential normalization of US-Iran relations that could bring Iran back to constructive cooperation with the West.
Iran is being touted as the next regional ally of the West in the Middle East replacing Turkey. Constructive relations can foster beneficial windfalls for all regional and international actors.
If the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Iran goes forward as anticipated, Armenia can stand to become one of the biggest winners.
In March, the Indian Ambassador to Iran Gaddam Dharmendra announced that India is planning on connecting the Chabahar port (a seaport in southeast Iran, heavily invested in by India) and the Indian Ocean with Eurasia and Helsinki through the territory of Armenia, creating an International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), adding that New Delhi is planning to make Chabahar the most important and busiest port in the region.
It is envisaged that the International North-South Transport Corridor will connect the European markets with India and Iran through Armenia, Georgia and the Black Sea taking natural resources and other transporting goods to Europe and Russia.
But does Russia agree or covertly sabotage the super project through instigation of Azerbaijan’s blatant violation of the sovereign territory of Syunik/Zankezur region in Southern Armenia that connects Armenia with Iran to the south?
Time will tell.
As for Turkey and Azerbaijan, Turkish Neo-Ottoman Sultan Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani despot Ilham Aliyev are adamantly opposed to such a communication superhighway that economically isolates both Ankara and Baku. Now one can see Turkey and Azerbaijan want to forcibly occupy Southern Armenia’s Syunik/Zangezur region.
The 44-day Turkey/Azerbaijan/ISIS terrorist aggression against Armenians of the Artsakh Republic and the tragic end of the war has brought to surface several key questions. One such question, “Is Armenia’s alliance with Russia sufficient for her development?”
Many independent observers agree that “The answer is obvious: While Yerevan needs to nurture its existing alliance with Russia, Armenia needs to diversify its foreign alliances in order to become an advanced sovereign state.
Armenia can not afford to have its future to be hijacked neither by the old kleptocratic regime oligarchs – Pres. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Pres. Robert Kocharyan, Pres. Serzh Sargsyan, Mafiosi Catholicos Karekin II, AGBU oligarch Berge Setrakian, nor by the new Sorosites regime. The Armenia sovereignty must be reclaimed by its politically mature citizens in order to decide a healthy future for Armenia and Artsakh. Armenia belongs to patriotic forces in the homeland and its Diaspora.
An ideal situation for Armenia would be that — by default, the entire Diaspora Armenians and pro-Armenia non-Armenian friends become citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
Armenia should create an All-American community in Armenia and name it “Little America.” Similarly, Armenia should lay the foundations to a “Little France,” a “Little Russia,” so on, and so forth. Armenia has the right to become an international free zone.
Could these projects become reality without massive participation by Armenian Diaspora?
Israel thrives on massive participation of its Diaspora, submitting to the will of the entire Jewish nation. Conversely Armenia has been strangled by its corrupt former regime oligarchy. The old kleptocrats embody the last vestiges of incorrigibly corrupted Soviet Communist regime that has consistently pushed away the vibrant and powerful Armenian Diaspora in order to create and/or maintain fertile ground to continue looting Armenia and Diaspora unabated.
The Armenian oligarchy — Pres. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Pres. Robert Kocharyan, Pres. Serzh Sargsyan, Mafiosi Catholicos Karekin II, AGBU oligarch Berge Setrakian, Arch. Hovnan Derderian of Los Angeles, Arch. Yezras of Moscow) has abused the trust of Moscow and Russia’s political cover becoming a serious political liability for the Kremlin. A public relations disaster in the making that Russian leaders can ill afford to confront throughout the Diaspora.
Can America and Europe pick up from where they left off in Armenia at the turn of the 20th century?
US-EUROPE: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN ARMENIA
Back in the 1910s the democratic Republic of Armenia of 1918-1920 actively pursued an appeal for an American mandate/protectorate over Armenia. Although US President Woodrow Wilson agreed, a large circle in the U.S. Senate opposed the proposed American protectorate over Armenia.
Can one envision what could have happened had the United States grabbed the opportunity and accepted the role of a protectorate over the Democratic Republic of Armenia of 1918-1920?
Had the United States accepted such a mandate, the contemporary geopolitical realities in Armenia’s neighborhood of South Caucasus would’ve been much different than they’re today.
The South Caucasus could have become a bastion of Democracy. The region could have become a hub of international trade and stability.
Now, around 100 years later, there seems to be a new opportunity to transform Armenia and the South Caucasus/Eastern Armenian Highland as well as the Caspian Basin into a robust center for Democracy and economic heaven connecting the East and the West.
A visionary article looking into a futuristic Armenia where all Armenians can take part in decision making for their homeland. Theoretically an idealistic situation where all parties involved would have one common interest, ie what is best for Armenia. Why doesn’t that happen now? Because all parties involved are fighting their corner and for their own benefit and seats in the Armenian parliament. Why do we need to throw away tried and tested practices for a futuristic idea where there is no guarantee of success? We have common economic and security interests with Iran which need to be rekindled and new ones developed with India. We also need to convince Mr Putin that a strong, and secure Armenia with independent Artsakh will not only provide a reliable ally but also extend Russian influence in the Caucasus. The Diaspora needs to play an effective role in convincing Putin.