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SHOULD RELATIONS OF ARTSAKH AND DIASPORA BECOME TRANSPARENT?
Karabakh Open
Oct 5 2007
In considering the role of the United States in global politics
Zbigniew Brzezinski notes in his famous book "The Choice: Global
Domination or Global Leadership" that the influence of ethnic lobbies
in America has grown in the recent years. The political scientist says
although the United States was built on supraethnic policies, ethnic
diversities, the desire to preserve their identity is intensifying,
especially among tight-knit communities. Many explain this behavior
by globalization threatening nations.
It is notable that Brzezinksi enumerates the Jewish, Armenian, Greek
and Cuban lobbies as the strongest in the United States. In addition,
the influence of these lobbies is gradually growing stronger, and
is starting to have a deciding role in the decisions made by the
American government.
Evidence to this is the size of the U.S. government assistance:
Israel gets most assistance, Armenia is the second. Besides, the
United States is the only country which provides direct assistance
to the Republic of Karabakh.
Presently, the Armenian lobby is preparing for the discussion of the
resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the U.S. House. In fact, the
adoption as well as the rejection of this resolution may considerably
change the correlation of forces in the South Caucasian region. The
decision will be evidence to a change in the relations of the United
States and Turkey.
That the approach has changed becomes clear from the support of
the influential Jewish organizations to the resolution. Besides,
Washington's "plans" regarding the military orientation of Armenia
will become clear.
In this context, it is worthwhile to recall the immense contribution
of the Armenian Diaspora, including the U.S. Diaspora, to the post-war
reconstruction of Artsakh, support to people. The relations of Artsakh
and the Diaspora are based by a tacit agreement on a strange parity -
the Diaspora helps Karabakh because it exists.
Karabakh is essential to the preservation of the identity of the
Diaspora which itself is one of the main guarantees of the existence
of Karabakh.
In addition, judging by pronouncements of politicians on the enhanced
role of ethnic lobbies, the Diaspora may have a much greater role
not only in the economic development of NKR but also the political
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Perhaps the Artsakh-Diaspora relations should be reviewed. In the
first meeting of the government President Bako Sahakyan mentioned
among the points of his program that the relations between Artsakh
and the Diaspora should become transparent. Some of our compatriots
confirmed that these relations are not the best they can be who say
humanitarian aid and investments in Karabakh shrunk due to lack of
confidence. In particular, our compatriots are not sure that their
donations reach the beneficiaries and how these are used.
There is another aspect of these relations. Since the Diaspora itself
is not homogeneous, and is divided by affiliation with political
parties and "post-Soviet background", assistance to Karabakh is
largely related to "jealousy" regarding "competing parties". And it
has a rather negative impact on the amount of assistance to NKR.
For the rehabilitation of these relations, it is perhaps necessary
to convince the Diaspora that the issue of Karabakh should not be
a dividing issue. The first move towards this could be the meeting
of Bako Sahakyan (immediately after the inauguration) with the
deputy president of the LINCY foundation. The foundation, in fact,
has not operated in Karabakh, if we say nothing about a million
contribution to the construction of the highways Goris-Stepanakert
and North-South. What was discussed in this meeting is not known,
but the fact of the meeting is itself very eloquent.
Perhaps it is worthwhile to set up a department on relations with
Diaspora in the ministry of foreign affairs. The international
organizations do not have direct contacts with NKR, and the best way
to set up international contacts is via the Diaspora. It is strange
that there is no such department yet. Perhaps because the contacts
with the Diaspora are viewed as the prerogative of separate people.
Karabakh Open
Oct 5 2007
In considering the role of the United States in global politics
Zbigniew Brzezinski notes in his famous book "The Choice: Global
Domination or Global Leadership" that the influence of ethnic lobbies
in America has grown in the recent years. The political scientist says
although the United States was built on supraethnic policies, ethnic
diversities, the desire to preserve their identity is intensifying,
especially among tight-knit communities. Many explain this behavior
by globalization threatening nations.
It is notable that Brzezinksi enumerates the Jewish, Armenian, Greek
and Cuban lobbies as the strongest in the United States. In addition,
the influence of these lobbies is gradually growing stronger, and
is starting to have a deciding role in the decisions made by the
American government.
Evidence to this is the size of the U.S. government assistance:
Israel gets most assistance, Armenia is the second. Besides, the
United States is the only country which provides direct assistance
to the Republic of Karabakh.
Presently, the Armenian lobby is preparing for the discussion of the
resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the U.S. House. In fact, the
adoption as well as the rejection of this resolution may considerably
change the correlation of forces in the South Caucasian region. The
decision will be evidence to a change in the relations of the United
States and Turkey.
That the approach has changed becomes clear from the support of
the influential Jewish organizations to the resolution. Besides,
Washington's "plans" regarding the military orientation of Armenia
will become clear.
In this context, it is worthwhile to recall the immense contribution
of the Armenian Diaspora, including the U.S. Diaspora, to the post-war
reconstruction of Artsakh, support to people. The relations of Artsakh
and the Diaspora are based by a tacit agreement on a strange parity -
the Diaspora helps Karabakh because it exists.
Karabakh is essential to the preservation of the identity of the
Diaspora which itself is one of the main guarantees of the existence
of Karabakh.
In addition, judging by pronouncements of politicians on the enhanced
role of ethnic lobbies, the Diaspora may have a much greater role
not only in the economic development of NKR but also the political
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
Perhaps the Artsakh-Diaspora relations should be reviewed. In the
first meeting of the government President Bako Sahakyan mentioned
among the points of his program that the relations between Artsakh
and the Diaspora should become transparent. Some of our compatriots
confirmed that these relations are not the best they can be who say
humanitarian aid and investments in Karabakh shrunk due to lack of
confidence. In particular, our compatriots are not sure that their
donations reach the beneficiaries and how these are used.
There is another aspect of these relations. Since the Diaspora itself
is not homogeneous, and is divided by affiliation with political
parties and "post-Soviet background", assistance to Karabakh is
largely related to "jealousy" regarding "competing parties". And it
has a rather negative impact on the amount of assistance to NKR.
For the rehabilitation of these relations, it is perhaps necessary
to convince the Diaspora that the issue of Karabakh should not be
a dividing issue. The first move towards this could be the meeting
of Bako Sahakyan (immediately after the inauguration) with the
deputy president of the LINCY foundation. The foundation, in fact,
has not operated in Karabakh, if we say nothing about a million
contribution to the construction of the highways Goris-Stepanakert
and North-South. What was discussed in this meeting is not known,
but the fact of the meeting is itself very eloquent.
Perhaps it is worthwhile to set up a department on relations with
Diaspora in the ministry of foreign affairs. The international
organizations do not have direct contacts with NKR, and the best way
to set up international contacts is via the Diaspora. It is strange
that there is no such department yet. Perhaps because the contacts
with the Diaspora are viewed as the prerogative of separate people.