Capitulation can be ‘creeping’: What layers does peace have?
Discussing peace, negotiating, and talking about a vision of peace in the region to ensure sustainable development is one thing; being forced to talk about peace is another, said Karen Bekaryan, Chairman of the INSIGHT Analytical Center, said during the Special Regime podcast broadcast on ABC media.
To achieve peace, Bekaryan emphasized the importance of the atmosphere in which the provisions of that peace are agreed upon.
Political scientist Abraham Gasparyan, Director of Genesis Armenia Think Tank/Foundation, agreed with the above-mentioned idea, stating that if peace is one-sided, it is a form of coercion.
“That is not peace. We may avoid calling it ‘capitulation’, but call it ‘not peace,’” Gasparyan said.
According to him, three layers can be distinguished in this context:
- Capitulation,
- Neither war nor peace—the freezing of the conflict for several decades,
- Counterattack.
“Peace can be real, long-lasting—one that can be passed down to future generations if, at least at the level of red lines, the interests of both sides are reflected,” Karen Bekaryan stated.
Gasparyan added that external factors and the interests of power centers cannot be overlooked, especially in our region.
Bekaryan also spoke about Azerbaijan’s potential demand for financial compensation from Armenia, noting that different figures have been mentioned—ranging from 50 to 75 billion dollars in compensation.
“Armenia will not be able to pay this debt—not in a few years, not in decades, possibly not even in centuries. Therefore, a new deal should be concluded with Armenia with a smirk: land in exchange for debt. In this regard, people say that, at worst, it will be Syunik, Vayots Dzor, and some other things, while “at best” it will definitely be Syunik,” Bekaryan said. “If you are unable to protect the rights of your own citizens, what will happen in the case of a unilateral return of Azerbaijanis under the Azerbaijani rhetoric of ‘Western Azerbaijan’?”
Experts noted that capitulation can be creeping. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be declared at once, with the raising of a white flag,” Bekaryan said.
Gasparyan recalled Germany as an example, which has shown us numerous examples of creeping capitulation over the past 30 years. The political scientist also spoke about Turkey’s ambitions.
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