To recall, Simonyan decided to react to the unveiling of a monument to Ashig Alasgar in Baku. Specifically, he commented on the speech by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the ceremony, in which the president once again mentioned Western Azerbaijan. In response, Simonyan stated: “Those circles looking for their historical homeland in Azerbaijan should not get too carried away, as they might end up having to move and live somewhere like Altai.”
Let us first clarify to the Armenian parliament speaker: Azerbaijan is not searching for its “historical homeland.” We are well aware of where our historical homeland is and have no need to invent myths about it—whether in Eastern Anatolia, on the lands of the Irevan Khanate, or elsewhere. There’s no need to concoct tales about 12 “ancient Armenian capitals” or to unearth yet another “Tigranakert.” The fact that modern Armenia was established on the lands of the Irevan Khanate by a decree of Nicholas I under the name “Armenian Oblast,” and that Armenians were relocated there from the Ottoman Empire and Persia after the Treaty of Turkmenchay, is a historical fact. No matter the outbursts of various Simonyans, Tatoyans, and other “-yans,” the truth remains unchanged. Those who doubt can simply refer to the texts of the Kurekchay, Gulistan, and Turkmenchay treaties to verify that there was no Armenian “presence” in the South Caucasus. Even if Mr. Simonyan was heavily struck in the head in November 2020, we believe he can still grasp this reality.
However, there’s something equally important to note. Mr. Simonyan’s statement is blatantly racist, and it’s not a new sentiment. Among certain Armenian circles, there’s a fondness for the narrative that “Armenians are the indigenous people of the Caucasus, while Azerbaijanis are foreign nomads.” This kind of discriminatory and Turkophobic rhetoric is actively promoted by Armenian lobbyists, representatives of the ousted “Karabakh clan,” and many others. Robert Kocharyan even went so far as to speak at the PACE podium about the “ethnic incompatibility” of Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
Furthermore, such rhetoric isn’t merely intended to boost national pride. These so-called “arguments” were employed with a clear aim: to convince both the Armenian population and a susceptible portion of the international audience that Azerbaijanis are “inferior,” second-class people, and that therefore, the lands they inhabit should belong to the “superior” Armenians. This, we remind you, is eerily similar to the ideology propagated by Hitler. And today, in Yerevan, there stands a monument to his associate, Garegin Nzhdeh.
On September 27, 2020, Pashinyan’s government attempted to put these ideas into practice by launching the long-promised “new war for new territories.” The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Onik Gasparyan, even directly urged his soldiers: “The time has come to show strength of spirit, the power of our strikes, and boundless hatred towards the nomadic remnants of a cave-dwelling tribe lacking a sense of patriotism!” Yet, the war didn’t follow the expected scenario. Armenia was forced to fight against a highly professional, well-equipped, and highly motivated army. Armenia suffered a crushing defeat. Onik Gasparyan attempted to stage a rebellion against his commander-in-chief, which also failed. In 2023, another attempt at revenge was made, resulting in yet another defeat. One would think this would be enough “food for thought” to stop laying claims to Azerbaijani lands.
However, as Alen Simonyan’s statement shows, Armenia isn’t ready to abandon its previous agenda. Within Pashinyan’s team—of which Simonyan is a key ally—they continue to promote the same fascist and Turkophobic ideology. They still refuse to acknowledge the right of Azerbaijanis to live on their native land. Instead, they suggest Azerbaijanis “move to Altai,” leaving behind Azerbaijan with all its cities, natural resources, and access to the Caspian Sea.
This only serves as further proof that Armenia has no real desire for peace with Azerbaijan. Moreover, they are not ready for it. Cleansing Armenian society, and especially its political elite, of this fascist ideology remains an urgent necessity. Without this, unfortunately, there will be no peace in the South Caucasus.
A. Shakur
Translated from minval.az
