ARMENIA’S POLITICAL LIFE BEYOND NATIONAL BORDERS
By Armen Gevorgyan

News.am
13:27 / 10/06/2009

Armenia’s domestic political life has been surprisingly calm over
the recent months. Singles instances of protest by the "radical
Opposition" and pickets by "nationalist forces" do not appear
convincing, especially against the Diaspora’s activities.

The paradox can be defined as follows: Armenia’s political life has
gone far beyond Armenia’s borders and is developing there. It is not
the Parliament members of Ministers (they are getting more and more
uninteresting day by day) or the Opposition leaders (what news can
be expected from Stepan Demirchyan or even Levon Ter-Petrosyan)
that are key newsmakers. Rather, they are active members and
analysts from the Armenian Diaspora, the ordinary Armenians are not
acquainted with. Everything has been said inside the country, but
processes are going on. The Diaspora is clearly showing its dislike
for the present developments. From the strategic point of view, the
Diaspora’s intensified political activities, combined efforts and new
motives for struggle are a significant process for Armenia, which may
enhance the country’s reputation in the future. Obviously, it is due
to the consolidation and consistent activities of the Jewish Diaspora
that the state of Israel has never restricted itself to surviving in
its struggle with the Arab world. Another matter is that, with all
the violence of its protests and rightness of concerns, the Armenia
Diaspora is presently "in isolation" from the real state of affairs
in Armenia. The passivity and confusion of the Armenian Opposition
camp is evidence thereof.

It is not a severe shortage of ideas, ideologies or development
strategies that can be the only cause of internal protest. A way out
of the political deadlock can invigorate the domestic political life
in that the same Opposition will have an opportunity to analyze the
latest developments instead of trying to make "two matches match."

>From this point of view, the Diaspora is appealing to enduring values,
without trying to predict any development of Armenia as a state or the
consequences of a regional conflict. It thinks of its own interests and
is fiercely defending them. It shows! However, it should be admitted
that the Diaspora had better vent its fury on Turkey as it did before,
but not on the historical Homeland. It is only the separation of
roles of the two "wings" of the Armenian nation, namely, Armenia
and the Diaspora that can produce long-expected results. One wing
"strokes gently," while the other "beats." In this case alone can we
hope for an effect. In a sense, Armenia is a hostage to Diaspora –
a hostage in the battlefield encircled by the enemy. Disregarding
this delicate situation means playing into Turkey’s hand. Turkish
Premier Recep Erdogan clearly defined its country’s task: "Armenia
does not need the Diaspora, it is of no use to her."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress