Allow me – truly, in an elementary measure only -, to react to yesterday’s Hetq interview with Ms. Talin Suciyan.

The analytical premise of Ms. Suciyan is fundamentally flawed, and thus, so are her subsequent comments.

Let us speak simply and specifically, in order to better understand and be understood, amongst ourselves.

First of all, for the informed - and practising - believers of the “One Nation, One Homeland” slogan, to date, the latter has never corresponded to an established reality, yet. These words do not refer to our present - and certainly not - our past situation.

“One Nation, One Homeland” is an essential aspiration of Armenians, a vital national objective. A program of survival and preservation, which is still in a pending phase of eventual implementation.

This conception was initiated at the beginning of the 19^th century, as an ideology. During those times, for the Armenians, not only in reality but even theoretically, there was neither any nation nor any homeland.

Originally, the “One Nation, One Homeland” concept for Armenians not only had no theoretical existence, but in factual reality, there was neither any nation nor any homeland. The meaning and purpose of said doctrine was – and still is – to establish same.

In effect, the Nation in question refers to an integral and comprehensive national consciousness, a collective Rebirth, self-acknowledgment and united rising, and Homeland means a sovereign statehood.

When the vision of “One Nation, One Homeland” was created, since the beginning of mankind there had never been – in the essential and modern sense of the word -, any Armenian Nation, nor had there been any pan-armenian, unified Armenian homeland founded upon said Nation (in any event, any Armenian statehood had disappeared, had ceased to exist, in any shape of form, for the previous 5 and a half centuries).

But the aforesaid ideology did not remain on the conceptual level. It was actually implemented, it translated into real work and action, and through extreme efforts and sacrifices, resulted in effective, major accomplishments. One of which, for instance, is the very existence of the current Republic of Armenia...

We could continue with such theoretical explanations at length. However, let us speak more practically and directly, in relation to our immediate reality.

A significant proportion of the current population of the Republic of Armenia is comprised of so-called "Western Armenians". They are essentially the children and grandchildren of Genocide survivors (whose grandparents arrived there thanks to the efforts of one General Antranik, a “Western Armenian” of some repute, it seems…), and the 1947-1949 repatriates and their successive generations - who replaced the mostly “Caucasian Armenian” masses who fought and died in World War II. Here, it is not even worth mentioning the Diasporan Armenians who moved to Armenia since the 1990s, considering that, at least in numerical terms (to say the least, in the case of some of them… but we shall address that issue also, one day…), that factor still remains insignificant.

In light of the elementary facts exposed above, the opinions expressed by Ms. Suciyan constitute the habitual tune played over and over again by some Armenians of the Diaspora who attempt to "justify" their deplorable estrangement, voluntary alienation, and spiritual and practical detachment from the Motherland and towards their compatriots living there.

Indeed, it is true that the “One Nation, One Homeland” concept has not yet transformed into a complete reality. However, to reject, deny or disavow it is the best way to guarantee that it never becomes reality.

And why, mind you, such a posture ?  For what ?  In who's name ?

Today, the "Armenian Diaspora" is merely an illusion – dust in the eyes, empty noise, self-deception and a fabrication of reality - .

For the vast majority of Armenians living on foreign shores, the most elementary components of Armenian identity have disappeared, and this existential massacre still continues. As for those who are not capable or inclined to see this painful reality, or those who still have an interest, a direct benefit in maintaining the concept of the diaspora, they don't know what to invent and come up with next, in their senseless and futile attempts to define some “new Armenian”.

If today there is still a trace of Armenian Diaspora which still tries to grasp at its national identity, that can be achieved only thanks to the re-establishment of the Independence of Armenia and the liberation of Artsakh.

It is very easy to see differences between this or that segment of Armenians. Not only between Armenians of Armenia and the Diaspora, but also between various regions of Armenia, between various Armenian communities in different countries. There will always be some people, everywhere, who will spend their time making an inventory of the differences amongst Armenians. Nowadays, even in the same city, anywhere in the world - including the voluntary place of exile where the undersigned lives -, anyone who so desires or who has nothing better to do, can observe intra-Armenian differences, even between neighborhoods.

Armenia is Armenia. Today, there is no other one, and, in even in the best case scenario, there will not be any other one, for a long time. Those Armenians of the diaspora who are not satisfied with “this” Motherland should have the clear-headedness or the honesty to address the issue of their alienation. Instead of fabricating some pretexts for the evident fact that, beyond superficial and lame appearances, they are just not able anymore to establish any authentic relationship, any communion, neither with the tangible reality of the Armenian Homeland nor with regard to our ultimate national aspirations.

Today, and from now on eternally, Armenia already has no need for the Armenian Diaspora. Whereas, Armenians living in various other countries, if they want to preserve their Armenian identity, are in vital need of Armenia, of their Homeland. And in this process, perhaps one day, who know?, we could even succeed in becoming a Nation.

There is still much to write about these issues, however it is better to refrain from going on and to stop here, in order not to aggravate this inclination and peril of internal division that constantly threatens us, and against which these lines had to be a minimal reaction only.

It doesn’t take much smarts, university degrees, special abilities of a sharp analytical mind, to see and stress the various and numerous differences that exist amongst Armenians.

The marifet [ingenuity], dear compatriot Talin Suciyan, is to perceive and to develop the similarities.

Haytoug Chamlian, Esq.

Canada

 Photo: himnakan.mskh.am