We awoke on the morning of September 27 to learn of fighting all along the border of Azerbaijan and Artsakh, the Armenian Republic that ceded from Azerbaijan in the 1990s. The Armenian news and social media buzz were all about the attack by the Azeris using tanks, helicopters, and drones. We also learned that Turkey was involved in providing armaments and mercenaries to assist the Azeris.
The hearts of Armenians around the world collectively sunk. We all felt helpless and wondering why the Turks and Azeris cannot leave our people in peace. We know that Armenia and Artsakh have less population and less money for weaponry that Azerbaijan. The imbalance is exaggerated even more when Turkey is included.
Here are some statistics gleaned from the internet.
I was surprised the military forces were approximately the same size, of course not including Turkey. Military spending by Azerbaijan is much higher than the Armenian side due, no doubt, to the oil revenue in Azerbaijan.
Erdogan has taken to call Armenia the greatest security threat in the region. Really? It is clearly not but when does truth have anything to maintaining power for that tyrant. A much better case could be made for Turkey having that dishonor. I fear that if the international community does not protest and put some military muscle behind it, Erdogan may take action against Armenia itself. Who would stop him? The US is quiet on the subject as is Russia as far as I can tell. Of course, who knows what is happening behind the scenes.
Artsakh or Kharabagh has been a long time Armenian homeland. During the Soviet times Kharabagh along with Armenian Nakhichevan became part of Azerbaijan which became a country in 1918. Stalin, to punish Armenians for revolting in 1921 and to appease the Turks, gave both Karabagh and Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan. All the recent aggression over Kharabagh has been initiated by Azerbaijan. The Armenians there reacted to Azeri pogroms and the expulsion of Armenians from Baku in the early 1990s. They defended themselves and declared independence. They did not join with Armenia, I can only guess, in order of maintaining or not losing international support.
Thus far in this latest incursion, the Armenian defense forces have fared well thus far demonstrating superior resolve, tactics, and execution. The people of Kharabagh have been known to be fierce mountain fighters. It seems that Armenians have staved off the attacks suffering much less casualties and equipment losses then they inflicted upon the Azeris. But, as we are so few, we suffer for each and every casualty.
Both countries have declared martial law and it is unclear what the next few days and weeks will hold. Here in the US, the media reporting is minimal at best and putting the blame equally on both sides. Of course, we Armenians do not see it that way.
One thing that is clear to me, in that part of the world, are the words of Khrimian Hayrig and Yeghishe Chartenz. Khirimian Hayrig was Catholicos of the Armenian Church from 1893 until his passing in 1907. He was not only the spiritual leader but also an inspirational national leader.
It was upon returning from the Congress of Berlin, where he was sent by the Armenian delegation to negotiate on its behalf, that he delivered his most famous speech, that of the “iron ladle.” He argued that Armenians had placed their hopes for salvation in others, rather than themselves. Hayrig used the allegory of a pot of harissa, a traditional Armenian dish, from which other countries were extracting what they wanted with iron ladles while he had been sent to secure concessions for the Armenians with nothing but a paper ladle. He thus implored Armenians to shed their timidity and become masters of their own fate.
Yehishe Charentz, the famous poet born in Kars, who was first a Bolshevik who became disillusioned as the revolution turned into Stalin’s dictatorship. Charentz was killed in prison during the purges of the 1930s. In a poem, Badkam, he sent a message to the Armenian people in an acrostic. The secret message was very similar to that of Khirimian Hayrig: “Armenian people, your only salvation lies in your united strength.” Indeed.
This week has united all Armenian. It has shown us the iron ladle of resolve displayed by the leadership and soldiers in Karabagh.
When given the chance, self-rule, and freedom, we do thrive. That is what we hope and pray for: to be left alone, to rule ourselves, and to work hard to improve our country. I am not sure why successive Turkish Governments have an obsessive hatred for Armenians. Leave us what lands we have left and let us live. God preserve our troops and people.
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