Now, there arises the question of the Armenian people who lived in these territories. After the recent anti-terror operation of the Azerbaijani army, many Armenians have left the region, even though the Azerbaijani government and the President himself have stated that they are ready to grant citizenship to the Armenian residents and integrate them into Azerbaijani society. Nevertheless, we need to understand that this is not a straightforward and easy process. First of all, there is the pervasive fear of the unknown; the new reality is very recent, and it takes time to adapt to, understand, and realize what actually transpired. In the meantime, Azerbaijan should also present a clear procedure for the integration of Armenians back into Azerbaijani society. However, Armenians should also engage in some introspection and realize that they, too, need to make changes. In this article, I want to focus on the mindset of the Armenian people in the Karabakh conflict, but also more broadly on how they view themselves in the world.
Armenians have often looked to other countries for help in the conflict over Karabakh. When trouble brews, they have hoped that international voices might step in and change things. However, with the current situation, there’s a pressing question that needs answering: Is it time to stop waiting for external help and start talking directly with Azerbaijan?
Picture this: An Armenian reporter in Khankendi, while under threat from an advancing Azerbaijani army, sends out a desperate call for help in English to the world. Even in such a dire situation where the Azerbaijani army advancing and it seems there is no hope for the separatist entity, Armenians turn to the outside world for help. That reporter was a perfect embodiment of the Armenian mindset. The reality is stark – no cavalry is coming from overseas to resolve this issue. It appears that reaching out to Azerbaijan directly might be the only viable way forward to ease tensions and create stability in the region.
Armenians did not even want to consider this option; they would rather lose everything that than engage in talks with Azerbaijan. This presents a very interesting psychology that warrants study. It seems that Armenians consistently seek approval from outside viewers regarding their history, culture, and traditions. Instead of being a self-sufficient nation-state, they prefer to become a tourist center for foreigners, enticing visitors to their country to admire their people and rich, ancient culture. This same mentality continues in politics. Instead of engaging in dialogue with Azerbaijan and reaching an agreement, they would rather paint a picture of victimhood and try to gain the sympathy of foreign powers, and possibly secure help from them against Azerbaijan. This mentality is very dangerous and destructive for the future of the Armenian people. Ultimately, they must understand that they are not a museum or a museum exhibit. They are real people with real problems.
Now, Armenians face a tough situation. They have to navigate through not only working towards peaceful living with Azerbaijanis but also handle internal disputes and discussions that have been part of their identity for a long time. The idea of Armenians returning to Karabakh and living peacefully in Azerbaijan is a complicated matter. It challenges many stories and campaigns run by some parts of the Armenian diaspora – groups that, some argue, might actually gain both influence and political power from the ongoing conflict and displacement of people. This creates a troubling scenario where the needs and stability of everyday Armenians might be at odds with the political and financial interests of these groups.
Therefore, we observe consistent attempts from the Armenian diaspora to advance a narrative that Azerbaijan is a genocidal dictatorship, asserting that Armenians cannot coexist with Azerbaijanis. However, what they suggest as an alternative remains unclear. Should we populate Karabakh only with Armenians? Should we allow Karabakh to become independent merely because the Armenian diaspora does not believe that Armenians can coexist with Azerbaijanis? On one hand, I can understand their pain as their nationalistic narratives and political agendas are in ruins and have failed. Nevertheless, they need to understand that if they want Armenians to continue living in Karabakh, they must reach an agreement with Azerbaijan. To do that, this narrative of a genocidal dictatorship and portrayals of Azerbaijanis as fascist, cruel, and bloodthirsty people must change. Do they want Armenians in Karabakh, or do they want Karabakh only for Armenians? By the look of their actions, it seems they want the latter. I think, in this situation, we need to inquire about what the Armenians who live in Karabakh want not the Armenians who live in California.
In the meantime, we observe so-called experts, human rights activists, and officials from foreign countries, especially Western countries, promoting a narrative of genocide and ethnic cleansing instead of advocating for peaceful coexistence. They cherry-pick facts on the ground and purposefully ignore that the regime in Karabakh had a 10,000-strong military force with no intentions of engaging in sincere and meaningful peace talks. Moreover, they regularly planted mines, which caused the deaths of Azerbaijani civilians and military personnel. For some reason, these facts are being ignored in the Western media and by the so-called experts. I believe this is a significant problem: it misleads Armenians into believing they still have a chance to achieve their political agenda and gain independence for their separatist entity, even after the entity dismissed itself. These false hopes have not disappeared. I think the international community and the so-called experts have also played a role in this delusion. From the very beginning, they should have been very clear, explaining to Armenians that they had no choice but to live with Azerbaijanis and no chance to gain independence. Sooner or later, they have to become part of Azerbaijan, and it’s best to start negotiating with Azerbaijan and seek autonomy rather than engaging in active military conflict. Nevertheless, none of these events happened. By pushing the Armenian narrative, the international community has forced Armenians into misery.
Azerbaijan’s President has offered a guarantee of safety for Armenians, suggesting a potential way towards peace and stability. While such promises should be approached with a healthy dose of scepticism, they also indicate that maybe the key to resolving these issues isn’t found in a distant land, but closer to home. However, it’s not as easy as just “sorting it out”. The pain and grievances on both Armenian and Azerbaijani sides run deep, shaped by decades of conflict and loss. Moving forward means carefully, and with a lot of heart, crafting a way of talking and dealing with one another that respects and acknowledges each side’s pain and humanity.
In creating a future where Armenians and Azerbaijanis can live side by side without fear of conflict, it’s crucial that any discussions or negotiations are open, fair, and based on mutual respect and an understanding of each side’s suffering and shared humanity.
