No to the Turkey-Armenia protocol

I'm not against Turkish-Armenian relations at all, but I think that there is something very critical being swept under the rug here, and not even talked about, which is evil.

The protocol forces Armenia to recognize the current border with Turkey. Why? That is an incredible concession being made by Armenia, in return for absolutely nothing. While most people are protesting the historical commission, that does not interest me as much. It is silly, but it is not as harmful in the longrun. The genocide is a fact that the whole world now recognizes, whether officially or not. The endgame in that battle is getting near, and Turkey already knows how it is going to end. That is why the commission is a mere delay tactic.

When the genocide is recognized by Turkey, the question will be reparations, and if Armenia recognizes the current borders, which is totally unncessary in order to simply establish normal diplomatic relations and an open border, it will be in a much worse position at that time.

In other words, we are giving up a lot, in return for what, being treated like human beings? Like neighbors? The people of Armenia have sacrificed a great deal over the past 18 years due to the closed border, and now Armenia has established trade routes through Georgia and Iran, as well as the air. There is no point in making such a large concession to the Turks in return for nothing at all.

No, no, no, I say. No Serzh. You may be trying to distract people from your corruption, you may be getting pressured from the West in exchange for brushing your post-election murders under the rug, but you cannot do this. You cannot act like we are on board, and that we want it.

You want a new protocol? A fair one? Here it is in one sentence, go ahead and sign it:

"Turkey and Armenia agree to establish diplomatic relations and open their land
border to trade."

And actually, it should just just read "Turkey agrees to establish...", since Armenia has agreed to have diplomatic relations and an open border this whole time.

Turkey needs this for the EU. It needs it to revive the economy of the eastern provinces. We do not need to make any concessions like this in order to get what ought to be ours to begin with.

Enjoy the Hamburger, Don't Forget the Chips

This is not an LA morning, I thought silently when I woke up. Went to work praying, as I always do. I met an Armenian student who came from Krasnodar last week. Not a word in English, but you'll make it, son --I thought. He was good in Math, knew Geography, spoke a few words in Armenian--the rest was in Russian. You will make it, but please don't forget your kind, we can't afford that--I was thinking while helping him fill the papers at school.

After school I went somewhere. Had to do some business. Met an old friend there who returned from Armenia several days ago. He confessed "It is different, not the 80's any more, but I'd love to live there." A young lady in her 30's was eavesdropping to our conversation. It was evident she was willing to participate. "Wait until you live there, you'll run away like crazy," she said. Who is she. I asked. Don't mind her, she is a hot head, my friend replied. She was a recent immigrant, I thought. Educated, gorgeous facade--but where did this hatred come from? She does not speak English yet, is in the process of acculturation. Wait until it hits you in several years, I thought. Wait until you pass through the 4 stages of naturalization, and I will talk to you then. Never mind, I don't want to talk to you, it'd be a tremendous waste. Find out on your own how difficult it is to be uprooted, planted in a different setting that has all the necessary components to grow, yet something would still be missing. Wait until you are able to purchase a nice car, some decent furniture; I hope you learn English the way you speak Armenian --then you'll get a well paying job, because you are ambitious, strong. Sooner or later you will realize that it's not "vortegh hats, endegh kats," as wise as it sounds, but "babo, vorn e mer hayrenin?" Can't help imagining how your heart will tremble when you hear a duduk melody, how guilty you'll feel when your husband will raise the shot of cognac to drink for "Hayastan." You still have some excuses, you're a newcomer. I hope you will change your views, because if you don't, then please stay away from me. I consider myself a kind and understanding human being, but will unleash my fury when I hear the same reaction in a couple of years. Stop confusing the government with the "yergir," please! I will not argue with you today, and I am not your enemy either. We have the same origins regardless of the fact whether you come from Middle East or Europe, Australia or Kenya. You, just like me, ran away. I stopped, you are still running. I have realized many things I used to disregard. The sorrow and pain made me an artist, a songwriter. I create, and I hold the "hayrenik" in my heart. Every time I visit Armenia my love to the land becomes stronger. I cherish every second of the limited time I have in Yerevan. I miss my family and my friends in LA when I am in Armenia. I miss Armenia when I am in LA. It's a catch 22, I guess. I infuse my feelings into the child who is confused, acts out, rebells without understanding, that his state of mind is boiling because he does not have the answers to the question "why did we have to leave Armenia for LA, Paris, Burkina Faso?" Wait until your son asks you the killer question. Meanwhile, enjoy the hamburgers with soda, and don't forget the chips.

Armenian in Georgia

Georgia has said it is "open" to the idea of Armenian being an official language in heavily Armenian areas. That would be a big step for a country that has tried hard to assimilate its minorities. Now let's see if they actually take the step, even on paper. Some Georgian officials reacted pretty explosively to the idea, including the Deputy Prime Minister, Temur Yakobashvili.

Turkish border to open in 3 and a half months?

According to the New York Times, the "roadmap" between Armenia and Turkey ought to be ratified by both sides in about 6 weeks, and it calls for an opening of the border within 2 months after that. The headline says the border will be opened to "trade", while the short article just says "opened", so I wonder if tourists and people would be able to cross the border as well?

Of course I also wonder if this is so much hot air and lies, and nothing is going to happen except for more excuses for the U.S. State Department to brush the genocide under the rug.