16 Aug 2009
Armenia stuck between several rocks and lots of hard places
Kids play with light-up swords in Yerevan's central Republic Square.
Last week I got a story in the Times about Armenia after spending a few days down there and getting a good look into its political situation and the implications of its bid to normalize relations with Turkey. And I thought Georgia was in a pickle, Armenia really is stuck. Here’s what ran last week.
TBILISI, Georgia - Although the process has been slow, the historic bid to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia announced in April has potential to shift regional power balances by giving Armenia an opportunity to wrest itself from dependence on Russia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in retaliation for Armenia’s support of an ethnic Armenian secession movement in neighboring Azerbaijan.
A donkey grazes in front of the Akhtala Monestary in near the town of Alaverdi in Northern Armenia.
If the Turkish border reopened, landlocked Armenia would have greater access to trade through ports on the Mediterranean and Black seas, and would be less dependent on transit through Russia.
“Armenia is a weak country, and it is surrounded by countries that are either countries that are not friendly or were not friendly up until very recently,” said Masha Lipman, political analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Center.
“So Armenia found itself with Russia as it’s chief protector, but I don’t think this will last for a long time. I think Armenia, like others, can diversify now,” she said.
2.) A father and daughter pause at the eternal flame at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan, Armenia. Turkey's failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide has been a major point of contention in negotiations to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia.
In April, diplomats from Turkey and Armenia disclosed that two years of secret diplomatic talks had produced a tentative framework for a package of sweeping reconciliation measures, including a reopening of the border and a bilateral commission to investigate what Armenians have called genocide by the Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern Turkey.
Nice to see something about Armenia in my news feed from you. As a western Armenian I would like to hope that Russia’s presence would leave for cultural reasons, but that would actually leave the country vulnerable. If you look at the southern region of Armenia you’ll notice the country looks like a decaying tooth. Without Russia, Azerbaijan would take this as a green light for a heavier attack on Artsakh (aka N. Karabakh). Azerbaijan and Turkey’s goal is to create a straight path, linking the countries/cultures. If you happened to visit Armenia/Turkish borders you will notice Russian troops are stationed as buffers. Before the buffers there were countless accounts of open fire to the Armenia side. If you happen to visit Hordviop, an Armenian church, you can look to the stone and the roof to see all of the bullet marks. Without Russia, Armenia would be in trouble. Without Armenia, Russia would not have a possible link to Iran and Azerbaijan for oil. Thankfully M. Russia was there in the 20′s and she’s there now.
Ashley
August 16th, 2009 at 5:58 ampermalink
Those are great photos and an interesting article. It’s nice to know that there is some progress in Armenia.
Sherry Clayton
August 17th, 2009 at 4:49 ampermalink