AMERICAN ANALYST SPEAKS OF THE CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN DIASPORA AND YEREVAN
Today
6563.html
April 22 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interviews Jason Katz, principal of the Tool Shed Group,
a US-based consultancy that advises foreign governments.
How can agreements between Obama and Medvedev in Prague influence
the post-Soviet area and regional problems?
The reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles of the US and the Russian
Federation is certainly a positive development. It contributes to
the stability of the region, in general, and that of the entire world.
I do have, at least, some hope that this will usher in renewed
US engagement in the region. Far too long has the US abdicated its
Clinton-era promises and successes in the region. One large and overly
ambitious power amongst many others serves the needs and interests
of no one.
The reality is that the US, for the sake of NATO operations in
Afghanistan and global energy diversity and security, needs to take
a more Clintonian position and tack. The US will continue to ignore
the region at its own peril and to its own detriment.
I will only add that I am supremely confused by the Obama
Administration’s decision not to invite Azerbaijan to the proceedings
in Washington DC. The snubbing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and President Obama’s failure to meet with Georgian President
Mikail Saakashvili was also rather bizarre. It makes me wonder who
the Administration perceives as friends.
The Karabakh problem was discussed during the recent visit of
the Turkish prime-minister to US. What do you expect from these
negotiations in this regard?
The fact that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has made it clear that
the issues of Nagorno Karabakh and the normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia are inseparable is a sound move for all
concerned. The two issues are, in fact, inextricably linked and any
delinking of the issues poses the distinct possibility of destabilizing
the entire region.
I believe that Prime Minster Erdogan will make the case while in
the US and I am hopeful that the message will be heard. The Obama
Administration seems to be coming to terms with the gravity of the
issues involved. I am hopeful that we will soon see a commitment by
the Administration to foster a comprehensive approach to solving the
issues at hand.
It seems that there are significant differences in the Armenian
Diaspora’s and Republic of Armenia’s approaches to the Karabakh
problem and relations with Turkey. It’s clear, that the settlement of
the Karabakh problem is good for Armenia, which is in deep crisis. So
how can you explain persistence of Diaspora in this issue?
The agenda of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora are
for the most part different, as odd as that sounds. The Armenian
Diaspora wants no part of rapprochement with Turkey or peace with
Azerbaijan. This is a community that has, unfortunately, lost sight
of the fact that they started out supporting Armenia. Now, it is
preoccupied with the recognition of whatever happened a hundred years
ago and destabilizing the South Caucasus by keeping Azerbaijani lands
under occupation.
Clearly, normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey is a
prerequisite to Armenia becoming a true independent nation. Whether
the leadership of Armenia is able to broadcast it openly or not,
I believe that they are coming to the realization that bringing
Armenia out of the Third World and into the prosperity of the rest
of the region is directly linked to rapprochement with Turkey and
the return of occupied Azerbaijani territories.
What should be done to prevent negative influence of Armenian Diaspora
on Armenia?
This is a process. The Armenian Diaspora has had ownership of all
the issues associated with the Republic of Armenia for years. It
is only recently that the issues and Armenia as a nation have come
into the light, of course as a result of the increasingly robust
public diplomacy program of Azerbaijan and potential normalization
with Turkey.
Public diplomacy is an educational process. There are those in the
US government who will never see the issues accurately, as they
are tied to their voters. However, there are increasing numbers of
elected officials and policy makers who are not buying the Armenian
Diaspora’s narrative any longer. It takes a concerted effort by all
parties to educate accurately.