A NEW POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR ARMENIANS
By Edmond Y. Azadian

AZG Armenian Daily
26/06/2009

Armenian Genocide

Political realism would instruct us that we should not expect a
quick and easy resolution for the issue of Genocide recognition,
yet we were shocked when our expectations hit a wall; President
Obama avoided using the "G" word in his first Martyr’s Day statement,
although he came halfway around with his other statements made during
his Ankara trip. This means that we will continue the campaign and
hold the president accountable on his pledge. If we can conduct an
effective campaign, we may expect him to deliver on his commitment
perhaps before his term expires and he seeks Armenian votes for his
second term. That will be a good opportunity to ask him to use the
"G" word, while he is still in the Oval Office. At that time there
will be no difference between candidate Obama and President Obama.

If 94 years of struggle has not consumed our resolve, we can still
go a long way to have the Genocide recognized by the US government
and other governments around the world.

While that remains our long-term goal, we have immediate political
challenges to face. The State Department had made its assessment
of the Caucasus region during the previous administration and that
assessment, it seems, has been transmitted intact to the Obama
administration. Certainly there are a host of foreign policy issues
which have not been subjected to reviews – nor even they will never
be. Although President Obama has shifted the US policy towards
the Middle East and has made conciliatory gestures to the irate
Muslim world – recklessly bombed and intimidated by the previous
administration – the change does not cover the entire gamut of foreign
policy issues.

The neocons of the Bush administration had learned one single adage
from their guru, Bernard Lewis, that Muslims had conquered the world
through the sword and one thing they respect most is power. That adage
may have had some truth in it in the Middle Ages, but in the modern
world it blew up in the administration’s face, and that is why we
are in the predicament in which the US finds itself. President Obama
distinctively moved away from that cynical philosophy and hopefully
that policy change would be rewarded with some peace dividends.

It seems that the State Department will continue the policy inherited
from the previous administrations, which will be very handy for the
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to pay back on her earlier deals
with Turkish lobbyists.

While the onus of the Genocide issue rests on the president, recent
punitive acts directed toward Armenia are definitely connected at
the Foggy Bottom.

It was not enough that the administration dramatically reduced annual
aid to Armenia, while increasing Azerbaijan’s share; now we see another
slap on the face, which will directly affect the daily life of the
Armenian people. Indeed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
has cut its programs in Armenia by about $67 million. The decision
was made on June 10 at the meeting of the US government’s MCC Board
of Directors chaired by Hillary Clinton.

The MCC program started in Armenia in September 2006. During five
years, $235 million was allocated for the implementation of the
program in Armenia. The amount was allocated every quarter based
on Armenia’s application of democratic standards. It was scheduled
to cover 750,000 farmers or 75 percent of the republic’s rural
population. Road construction and repair of irrigation systems are
the main components of the program.

Natalia Leshchenko of the World Markets Research Center states
that "the Armenian government will not see $67 million earmarked
under the 2006 agreement, which overall pledged $235.5 million of
assistance until 2011, of which $160 million is to be channeled into
road construction and repairing, and this will certainly lead to
a halt on projects currently underway." It looks like the decision
is irreversible.

The same source cites the following as a reason for this tough action:
"The US Department of State, which guides the MCC on democratic
criteria, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in Armenia
since the controversial February 2008 presidential election and warned
the government of possible funds withdrawal should no improvement
be made. The May 31 mayoral election in the capital Yerevan, which
the opposition contested as flawed, was the last straw for the US
agencies. The MCC withdrew infrastructure repair funding, stressing
that the decision was irreversible and laying the blame squarely on
the Armenian authorities."

Those who are familiar with the lamentable road conditions in the rural
areas of Armenia will understand the full impact of this punishing
act toward the people in the affected area. The blow is directed to
the people rather than the government, which was blamed for failing
on its democratic record.

This action is purely motivated by politics; it is selective
application of democratic standards. Next-door-neighbor Azerbaijan
recently held a referendum to change the constitution and make Ilham
Aliyev president for life, in a way restoring the medieval Khanate
system. And while doing that Aliyev has jailed journalists and
killed opposition leaders. And for all these "democratic" actions,
Azerbaijan was rewarded by an increase in US aid. Further, President
Obama continued the Bush policy on Article 901 of Freedom Support Act,
which banned the sale of military hardware to Azerbaijan. President
Bush had usurped the Congress’ voice in turning the implementation
of the act into an executive privilege.

The State Department action has a broader political implication
than simply the application of democratic standards in Armenia or in
Azerbaijan. The Baku government, by its brazen actions, has already
rendered the democratic excuse into a laughing stock. Indeed, here
Armenia is a victim of superpower competition in the Caucasus. As
Russia tightens the noose around Georgia, a client state of Washington,
the US as been retaliating in kind by punishing Armenia, which, in
turn is perceived as a client state of Moscow. Just a few days ago,
Russia used its veto power at the Security Council, ending the mandate
of the UN observers on the Georgia-Abkhazia border, declaring that
Abkhazia is a sovereign country now.

Besides, the May 31 Yerevan Mayoral elections were contested only
by the opposition, which is expected in any country, but they were
approved by the European Union observers.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration consistently tried to
destabilize Armenia. One only needs to listen to the US-funded Radio
Free Europe to be convinced of that policy. It looks like the Obama
administration has inherited that policy. And adding insult to injury,
now comes this punishing action from the MCC, a blow to a helpless
nation, which contravenes Mr. Obama’s high-moral rhetoric.

In principle, the USAID should not have any strings attached. In
particular, it should not be used as a political tool to wreak havoc on
the domestic policy of the recipient country. Recently, the Bolivian
government complained bitterly that USAID was supporting opposition
groups in the country. It is ironic that opposition parties are the
rich landowners in Bolivia, whose region is trying to secede from
the rest of that poor country.

It is no coincidence that US Ambassador to Armenia, Marie Yovanovitch,
is being dispatched to the US to do some explaining to the Armenian
communities here.

Like all her predecessors, Ms. Yovanovitch has ingratiated herself in
Armenia. However, she is coming to put a smiling face on a terrible
act by her superiors. Therefore, our first line of challenge will be
to ask her all the blistering questions, with all due respect. After
completing her US tour, she should leave no doubt in her report to the
State Department that the Armenian community is incensed regarding
this uncalled for and unsustainable action and that the community
will mobilize to respond in kind any time – and in any way it can.

The next confrontation is with the legislature; in addition to our
lobbying groups, every Armenian should pester Congressmen and the
Senators to make sure our voices are heard.

The US has a determining voice on the destiny of most countries,
and certainly on Armenia. Armenia cannot discover oil or any other
resources to make itself indispensable. How can it change its
alliances, as long as Turkey is watching on the border. Therefore,
Armenia’s defense lines begin there, in this country. We need to take
up the challenge to politicize the community and rise with our voice
in defense of Armenia.