The trauma caused by the memory of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Port and the humiliation of fresh defeats in the clash with the Azerbaijani seems to have no end. In the spring of 2024, Armenians were shaken by the news of the forced Paszynian government's resignation of Azerbaijan to 4 border villages in Tawusz Province.
This is the consequence of the idiotic course of the borders described by me from the russian times with the chessboard of the enclaves of both nations, on the sections of the strategical road. This time it is about the road moving along the northeastern border of Armenia. Another loss, then. Crowds of despaired and outraged people demonstrated in Yerevan, demanding the resignation of Paszynian government. The Archbishop of Tawusz was the leader of the protest Bagrat Galstanian. Meanwhile, Paszynian has been holding his seat since 2018 like a Velcro. Hated, despised, accused, but still. Why? due to the fact that it's convenient for Western worlds. It is divided with Russia and so guarantees the isolation and defencelessness of Armenia, so it can be dictated by various surrender pacts against the Turkish bloc.
These protests had another aspect. Falkowski, quoted by me, impertinently suggested that the Apostolic Church no longer had any authority, and that the religion of Armenians was superficial. That's the opposite. average people, like everywhere, do not fall into the theological subtleties, but the attachment to conventional forms of spiritual life is immense, and the clergy are treated with large respect. The position of national religion (the monophysic confession defined synodically in the 6th and 7th centuries) is reflected in the text of the Constitution. religion besides allowed Armenians to last the worst experiences. We have seen many times with the thrill of many families holding sacramental ceremonies in churches. We saw a crowd of believers attending services not only in the capital but besides in tiny cities. I saw (more importantly) the faithful come to the churches for quiet private prayers. religion is fine. The social authority of the clergy shows the function of Archbishop Bagrat with full approval Catholicosa Garegina II. On the another hand, rotten global cannot win Armenian souls and hence frustration, well expressed in Falkowski's book.
I'm going back to the basic storyline. So far, there have been 2 countries that have actually supported Armenia's material existence. These were Russia and Iran. I'll start with the another one. Shiicki, Muslim Iran supported Christian Armenia in various ways to block Turkey's expansion. Let us return to the ‘life-giving’ road through Meghri. Constantly (this was until last year) Iran provides Armenia with energy supplies under convenient conditions: gas, kerosene, petrol, propellants. As of 2017, there is simply a duty-free region in Meghri. Iran sells products of steel, machinery and chemicals to Armenia and buys fruit, leather and mutton. Trade in foodstuffs is bilateral. In addition to economical ties, social-cultural relations are of paramount importance.
200,000 tourists come to Armenia all year from the Muslim Republic of Iran. I've seen these guys honor the monument to the victims of genocide at Swallow Hill in Yerevan. In this capital, the only mosque in Armenia (Gök Jami – "blue") operates without hindrance under the care of Iran. In turn, there are Armenian schools, parish churches, cultural centres in Armenian communities in Iran (residencestors since the 17th century). The Armenian press is coming out. There are Armenian deputies in Majlis. Iran has restored its historical Armenian monasteries. So there is no spiritual antagonism here (in a legally Muslim state !), for political considerations decide. Common fear of the Turkish march east. The well-being of Iran, so essential for Armenians today, did not obscure in the memory of the collective Persian atrocities of the 16th and 17th centuries, which can be read in the chronicle of Arakel of Tebriz.
However, the situation described, so successful for Armenians, is not stable. During the 1991–1993 war, Iran powerfully supported Armenia. In the autumn of 2020, he demonstrated a "nice" neutrality. In 2023 he was silent. Why? Despite its strategy to halt Turkey in the Caucasus, Iran is counting on this country as a regional leader in the political bloc, repelling the appetites of the US and the EU. In addition, Iran does not want to provoke the occurrences of its “own” Azerbaijanes, inhabiting the right Azerbaijan around Tebriz. yet – in 2024, Azer became the fresh president of Iran Masud PeseshkanAlthough his name is Armenian. Iran's politics are decided by Ayatollahs led by faghich Chamenei, not the president, but... Armenia's relation with Iran is beginning to unfold.
Time for Russia's presentation in Armenia
So far it has been a large guardian and ally. Armenians remember that only Russia saved them from full demolition in planet War I. However, they besides remember periodically the brutal treatment in the Empire and the russian "goods", peculiarly severe in the 1930s. Russia's political patronage seemed reliable by 2020. In 2020-2023, Russian guarantees raised doubts, but the Armenians inactive trusted. After the Blame in the fall of 2023 no 1 believes that Russia will save Armenia in the event of utmost danger. Of course, Russia has besides much business in this area to just walk away. But her attitude towards Turkey for many reasons (Ukraine, Syria) is increasingly flexible and yielding. Meanwhile, even the fuselage of Armenia is simply disturbing the Turks.
Russia's participation in Armenia's economy is huge. It is simply a legacy of Armenia's economical position in the USSR. As part of the all-Union specialization, Armenian SRR produced rubber, computers and... horse. metallic mines were working: Armenia covered 60 % of russian needs at the time thanks to large deposits of molybdenum, but besides copper, zinc and aluminum decks were of importance. Since 1991 Russia has taken over quite a few russian “activities”: 80% of energy equipment belongs to Russian investors, 28 % of products imported from abroad are Russian products. Russian entrepreneurs invest in mines, railways (rail network is poor) and telephones. Technicians and money from Russia owe the existence of a atomic power plant in Medzamor, which covers 40% of Armenia's energy needs. any devices were purchased in Germany. In total, 60% of industrial companies are Russian property. Russia supplies Armenia with oil, petrol, gas and grain and dairy.
There is besides a request to add employment in factories and offices of Armenian many Russian engineers and a crucial function of exchange and technological cooperation: scholars and Russian students are constantly present in Yerevan. Finally, the function of Armenian migrants in Russia. Many have made fortunes, many send large amounts to families in the country. This all explains why even the shaky and unbelievable Paszynian government did not dare to break up with Russia. He just stayed conscious. I would add that Russia's military bases in Gyumri and on the Turkish-Armenian border are inactive in operation, patrols have been maintained over Araks. If there were a complete evacuation of Russia from the Caucasus, Armenia would not have a chance in the clash and Turkey. There is besides a increasing disparity between Armenia and Azerbaijan: the second has 3 times the population and a larger and better equipped army. For this reason, Armenia has maintained interstate associations around Russia: since 1991 the Commonwealth of Independent States, since 2010 the Organization of the Collective safety Treaty, since 2013 the Eurasian economical and Customs Union. However, since 2001 it has besides been a associate of the Council of Europe.
Nature and climate are besides hard for Armenians, although the scenery is so beautiful. It is simply a advanced mountain “land of rocks and stones”. 90 % of the territory is more than 1000 m above sea level, of which 40 % is more than 2000 m above sea level. We're moving out of our own energy resources. With the stubbornness of the Armenians, they teardrop out pieces of land for farming, orchards, and vegetable gardens. This effort resulted in considerable results. Sadivation, breeding and food processing are an crucial origin in national income. After the privatization of the land, the specialization of crops began. Fruit orchards took the lead, alongside vineyards and sheep, goats and dairy cattle. We visited model household farms - wine and cheese factories.
In fresh years, the food and textile industries have made the most profits. After 2010, the alleged modern technologies and the improvement of tourism were put in place, although the 2020-2023 epidemic prevented plans. Export excavations have been maintained, but mining is not equal to the economy of the end of russian times. We've seen closed and fallen copper mines. However, 26 % of exports are inactive copper in the form of natural material and semi-finished products. Of course, molybdenum is besides exported. Gold mining and exports are underway - this represents 7% of exports and finds many buyers. The light manufacture uses old goldsmiths and Armenian jewelers. abroad buyers are happy to buy carpets and woollen fabrics. The processing of construction stones is of large importance. In general, it was not until 2006 that the level of production from the end of the USSR was reached in 1989. Since then, there has been a constant growth.
Interesting was the method of defending the celebrated cognac plant “Ararat” in Yerevan. In 1995, the French company Pernod-Ricard bought it. It immediately prohibited the name ‘cognac’ reserved for French products. The French proposed the name “brands”. And that was erstwhile the Armenian government spoke defending the traditions and interests of the country. The description “Armenian horse Ararat” was agreed. Armenian law has guaranteed the quality of this beverage: 100 % of the content of local grapes, production on site only and a permanent transportation contract from 5 000 Armenian wine growers. A model agreement, worthy of imitation. The government of Armenia besides maintained the ban on the colonization of the country by large abroad traders. So there is no 100 m of immense “gallery”. There is simply a dense network of household food, industrial, etc. The marketplace trade is booming. "New technologies" companies have been allowed since 2004, Synopsis, since 2011 Piscart, as well as Microsoft. In 2018 there were already 500 of them. If it wasn't for Covid-19, tourism would have survived the avalanche growth. In 2019 2 million guests were received, mainly from neighbouring countries: Iran (30%, Russia (20%), Georgia (15%).
The peculiar position is in contact with the Armenian diaspora, with as many as 9 million people worldwide, or 3 times the number of people under the Caucasus.. It tries to aid in many ways, although there is no lobbyist force to meet the needs of the country. Expatriations build hotels and restaurants. Armenian millionaires from the land make large investments: Kirk Kerkorian building roads and housing and public buildings in Yerevan, Eduardo Eurnekian He renovated the airport in Zwartnoc, the Tufakian household financed carpet production, and Arslanian supports diamond mining and processing in excellent home grinders. Rupen Wartanian He founded a cable car to the Tatew monastery in the fairy tale scenery of Sjunik.
The function of Erwanie
Erwania's function as capital deserves attention. The metropolis has a million inhabitants, or 1/3 of the population of the country. Its architectural-urban face comes from 2 epochs: the USSR and the last 20 years. The russian architects with Alexander Tamanian at the head left the magnificent ensembles of residential buildings and public buildings in a national variant of "socialist realism". They created a full spatial – squares, parks, squares, a network of streets with commercial and service buildings. They utilized Armenian building block - blocks of pink and white grey tufu. We will not find there the nightmare of present-day developer Warsaw – the H frame and the hollows. The latest construction projects of Erwania harmonize with the city's past, are elegant, aesthetic, made with imagination. Yerevan is besides a multitude of theatres and museums, 5 universities (including Russian, French and American), many art schools and beautiful churches.
A immense basin of fresh water is crucial – Lake Sewan with an area of 1500 sq mi at an altitude of 1918 m above sea level. Bathing sites from russian times are reborn on the shores. Sewan waters were utilized to meliorate rocky dirt and power plants, so the mirror of the lake was lowered. A protection programme has been introduced since 2010. It is an area of exceptional natural value.
The mediocre quality of the communication network is simply a mark of the economical state of Armenia. In 2021, most of the road required general renovation. Work like this continued, but very slow. From the autopsy I know that even the strategical road of Erevan-Goris-Meghri on respective long sections was in a fatal state (leading through respective passes in the mountain land). In 2021, there was besides a good road north of Gyumri. It is hard to be amazed at these problems, since 20% of the budget's gross should be spent on the arms and maintenance of the 44 thousandth army, which is inactive besides tiny for the Azerbaijan-Turkish threat.
I would now like to show Armenia's relations with countries outside the front zone. The chain of dependency is as follows: countries in request of gas and kerosene from Azerbaijan (and there are many of them) mention to Armenia either hostilely or indifferently, and states that can be without Azerbaijani fuels realize the arguments and needs of Armenians. However, it is not a black and white painting. Geopolitical and little spiritual factors are active in the choice of orientation.
Iran and Israel
In Iran's example, I have already shown that spiritual differences do not find the anticipation of good neighbourly relations, provided that political considerations dictate specified a need. And now another examples. In the streets of Erwanie, I met elegant gentlemen in Arabburnus. I was rubbing my eyes. Friends explained to me: the United arabian Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia keep excellent trade relations with Armenia. The Armenian Church in Sharjah was opened in 1998 and in 2016 in Abu Dhabi. The Muslim exclusivity of these emirates did not prevent it. Iraq, on the another hand, buys 6% of export food products from Armenia. Since 2000, the Armenian consulate has been operating in Kurdish Irbil, Iraq. The cultural background needs to be explained. Since 1993 Armenia has been practically a country of 1 nation – Armenians. This drives global ideologists crazy and found echoes in Falkowski's book.
However, there were tiny number groups – the old rites and sectarians of Russia (a fewer villages from the immigration of the 19th century, inhabited by God-fearing peasants), more Orthodox Greeks, formerly serving copper mines and yet Kurds, who erstwhile participated in Ottoman genocide operations. Now they live in Armenia in an excellent combination with autochthons, in peace and harmony. This besides applies to the Jazids, followers of syncretic religion, late terribly persecuted in Syria by the Sunni Caliphate (Islamic State). The large relations between Armenia and Syria during the regulation of the Asad alavits, as the BAAS authorities protected as Christians all denominations from Muslim extremists. east Churches Supported Bashara Assad, besides Armenians. Against the background of anti-Turkish friendly relations connect Armenia with Greece and Greece Cyprus.
We're moving to the another side of the front. Israel needs Azerbaijan for 2 reasons: comparatively inexpensive oil and excellent intelligence point in Iran. A contract was concluded: fuel flows to Israel, and modern judaic weapons to Azerbaijan. Israel was so insolent in his own way that he did not admit the Turkic genocide of the Armenians. In Baku Jews got comfortable reflection conditions. At the same time, the serving Azerbaijanes (who were Muslims) demonstrated “tolerance”: the judaic cahalus received all legal and taxation amenities. What is not available to Armenian Christians, brutally discriminated against, will be found for Jews. But who cares? There are almost no Jews or Muslims in Armenia today. specified a country cannot number on the sympathy of the “west”.
Another ally of Azerbaijan is Pakistan, but already for spiritual reasons. He even sent military reinforcements during the 2020 and 2023 battles. It caused a chain reaction. India, Asia's economical mogul, has established friendly relations with Armenia. After 2011, India finances Armenian diamond mines and supports the improvement of IT there. However, a competitor of Hindus – Chinese communists – appeared on the Armenian market. The PRC supported the chemical industry. The PRC’s share of Armenian imports reached 12 %. Red Chinese sale machines there and buy copper, molybdenum and gold. The mines from Armenia are besides curious in Germany and Bulgaria, bringing molybdenum, copper, zinc, aluminum and gold. Switzerland, Belgium and Canada buy diamonds.
U.S. position in Armenia...
is due to the circumstantial events of Armenian emigration. Even in Turkish times Armenian refugees began to arrive in America (since 1870). They landed mostly in California (East Hollywood in Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Montebello). A full of 20% of Armenian migrants by the 1920s chose the USA. In 2015, 460 000 Armenian people lived in the US. With private Armenian commercial funds in the US, he goes to Armenia $200 million all year. Unfortunately, their organizations- The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) are powerless in the face of Turkish threat and do not know how to influence subsequent US administrations on this matter. The US prestige in Armenia is so poor. However, the U.S. embassy in Yerevan acts as an intelligence “observatory” of Russia and Iran.
France is completely different, where half a million Armenians live. Marseille, Lyon and Paris have been home to the most politically active Armenian diaspora centres since 1918. They were always anti-Turkish and anti-communist. France's trade relations with Armenia are slim, French participation in Armenia's manufacture outside of cognac is virtually nothing. Conversely, cultural relations that inspire large sympathy on both sides. Since 2012, thanks to Armenia's diaspora, it has been part of the planet Frankofon Organization. In 2018, she was held a legislature in Yerevan. Ibid.: French University, French advanced School "Anatol France", French Alliance (Alliance Francaise). president Macron, in a simple mockery, threatened the 5 of the Azers and "defensed" the right Armenians. No 1 takes this seriously, but France does not lose Armenian sympathy.
Last word on Armenia's relation with Georgia's only Christian neighbor. Georgia passes the only railway connection serving Armenia. Georgia is besides a transit corridor on the Russia-Armenia route. Georgia allows Armenians to usage Black Sea ports. He buys various foods in Armenia. They have a cool diplomatic relationship. Armenia has never taken up a real disputed problem: in Georgian confederate state Jawachetia lives in the Armenian majority and is not well treated, especially in the educational and church fields. However, the Armenians did not rise territorial objections. This restraint was not met with the gratitude of the Georgians. So far Georgia has diverging geopolitical interests. Since 1991, he has maintained a appropriate relation with Turkey, with which there are no border disputes. He is besides happy to acquisition oil and gas in Azerbaijan. So she did not support Armenia in any war on the Arcs-Karabach. The Georgians, however, resent Russia for supporting the successful secessions of Abkhazia (since 1992) and Ossetia (since 2008). The current Georgian authorities are trying to fix relations with Russia, but Armenia will not help.
I bid farewell to the Armenians, with a brave ancient nation now surviving in a truncated small country behind the Caucasus. Armenia has had a unchangeable national currency (dram) since 1993, but the income per individual is $4,605 (2019) and unemployment affects 18% of the population. After 2018, the minimum wage reaches 53 dollars per month. In 2020, the poorness category (monthly income up to €80) included 23% of citizens. It is so inactive a mediocre country. But that is not the sad thing. Nor is the structure of trade (export of colour metals and foodstuffs for industrial products and energy natural materials) so much a problem, nor is the dominance of Russian capital, which alternatively favours Armenia, due to the fact that it is an incentive for industrialisation. The worst is the geopolitical powerlessness of 3 million Armenians, attached to the last part of their native land. erstwhile so vast and rich. The aim of Turkey and Azerbaijan is obvious. Only Armenia stands in the way of a pantura or alternatively pantura concept. It can't be missed!
Woe if the Armenians don't find a tender protector soon. Russia will not take this role, the US sees no economical advantage, but they are afraid to alienate themselves to the remainder of Turkey. An open US conflict with Turkey is the abolition of NATO. On the another hand, Armenia has a full right to real independence, not to any position of protectorate or semicolony. Diaspora won't help. It's besides weak for power policy.
More darkness than hope.
Prof. Tadeusz M. Trajdos
Useful Bibliography
Ardillier-Carras, A l’ombre de l’ Ararat, Une géographie en Arménie, Paris 2021.
Galichian, The Invention of History, London-Yerevan 2010.
Galichian, A Glance into the past of Armenia, London 2015.
Mardirosian, L’ Artsakh, Citadele assiégée par le panturquisme‘L’incorp, espace de libres débats’, 3.11. 2022.
Yégevian, Géopolitanique de l’ Arménie, Paris 2022.
M. Marian, L’Arménie et les Arméniens..., Paris 2021.
[Encyclopedia] L’ Arménie et les Arméniens [20].
I would like to thank my colleague, Dr. Stanislaw Zagrożyń from Geneva, for his bibliographical guidelines and sending me current literature on Armenian issues.
photo of wikipedia
Think Poland, No. 7-8 (16-23.02.2025)
