Enclaves, relations with Turkey and possible war: What was discussed at the meeting with Abraham Gasparyan in Belgium?
Turkey is not afraid of Armenia, but of the Diaspora. The meeting of Founding Director of Genesis Armenia Think Tank and Foundation, Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor Abraham Gasparyan with the representatives of the Armenian community in Belgium took place in Hay Doun in Brussels. During the lecture that lasted more than three hours, Gasparyan talked about the stages of the settlement of the Artsakh conflict, the position of Armenian political forces, that of the political groups affiliated with them, and that of the public in that regard, and the ways how to respond to the threats to the existence of the Republic of Armenia and to handle the crisis.
“There is no Azerbaijani enclave in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.” Gasparyan backed up this claim with the help of a map published in 1926 and spoke about the existential threats that the Republic of Armenia may face in case the so-called enclaves are ceded.
He also spoke of the possible war, the threat of which is now hanging over Armenia, and will continue to crush the Armenian resistance as long as the force, threatening people with the specter of war and instilling defeatist ideas into the public consciousness, is at the helm of the country.
“A potential war does not suggest only military action. Azerbaijan has prepared for this war on all fronts, from military to lobbying. Two days after the 44-day war of 2020, on Sept. 29, there was a thick pile of papers on the table of all U.S. congressmen, with which Azerbaijan was trying to prove that Artsakh has always been part of Azerbaijan,” Gasparyan said, speaking about Turan’s anti-Armenian policy and about Azerbaijan’s territorial ambitions in that regard.
According to the political scientist, the expression “Turkey has changed” — which has dominated the discourse in the post-independence years — is nonsense, while the expression “Armenia will exist forever” is aimed at dulling vigilance. And if we want to achieve a breakthrough in today’s catastrophic cycle, we need to think about asymmetric actions as well.
“What I’ll say now may give rise to controversial views, but states are founded by establishing big goals. If I were to draw up the national security strategy of Armenia, the first sentence would be the following, ‘Armenia cannot lose any war,’” Gasparyan said.
He also presented a road map of 12 points, by which it will be possible to ensure the reawakening of the Armenian state.
“The time has come for the Diaspora to be involved in the formation of Armenian statehood,”during the meeting with the Armenian community in Belgium, Gasparyan also spoke about what the Diaspora is doing at this fateful moment for Armenia.
“We lost Artsakh, Armenia is on the table, the Diaspora is neglected. Armenia is weak now. Please stand up for our motherland, each in his place, each as an ambassador of Armenia to the world,” Gasparyan said.
At the end of the meeting, the attendees asked questions about the political actors in Armenia, possible leaders and things to do. When asked whether he is going to found a political party, Gasparyan answered in the negative. “I have put forward the idea of collective leadership,” he concluded.
