Thoughts on Tashnagtsootyoon...

[A.R.]

A.r.

Tashnag Karabakh veteran stresses Armenia must unite, defend territories


Zhirayr Sefelyan, commander of the Dashnak detachment that participated in
the capture of Shushi [Susa] during the Karabakh war said Armenia today
must unite to protect its territories. He accused "external forces" of
trying to keep Armenia weak and create divisions among Karabakh veterans.
Sefelyan said he did not believe that the former commander of the Karabakh
army, Samvel Babayan, was behind the attempt on the life of Karabakh
President Arkadiy Gukasyan, and blamed the same "external forces". The
following is text of Marina Grigoryan interview by Armenian newspaper Golos
Armenii on 8 May entitled "`Shushi was a victory of the Armenian spirit,'
says Zhirayr Sefelyan, commander of the Dashnak detachment that
participated in the liberation of Shushi":


[Zhirayr] Sefelyan has recently become active in public and political life:
some months ago he emerged as one of the initiators of the "Armenian
Resistance" movement, and he also plays an active role in the "defence of
the liberated territories" public initiative and the committee of
comrades-in-arms for the defence of Samvel Babayan.


[Zhirayr Sefelyan] I was born in Beirut. In 1990 I was happy to return to my
native land to take part in the Armenian-Turkish conflict. I did not manage
to receive a higher education because of the civil war in Lebanon. I was
forced to abandon my education and go in for military training. I was then
able to use this in Karabakh.


I am a Dashnak, though for two years I have not been a member of the Dashnak
party. I think that to feel oneself a Dashnak and to be a member of that
party are two different things.


[Correspondent] And why "Armenian Resistance"? Resistance to whom?


[Sefelyan] Not resistance to something or someone, but in the name of what
we essentially are. We must be able to create a system that does not spoil
the integrity of what we essentially are. Today, possibly for the first
time in the history of Armenia, this is under threat in our own land. That
is why we put forward the goal of promoting the maintenance of our
essential core.


[Correspondent] Let us return to nine years ago. What do you remember most
of all? What did the liberation of Shushi [Susa] mean to you?


[Sefelyan] What I remember most vividly is a sense of the unique spirit
among the Armenians at that time. I would say that Shushi was liberated
primarily thanks to our great spirit, not because of military superiority,
organization or for some other reason. I remember the mood of the boys
before battle. It was great, though everybody understood that they might
die.


From the point of view of the significance of that victory, the main thing
was that Stepanakert [Xankandi] could breathe freely once it was safe from
the threat of being fired on. The liberation of Shushi represented a moral
breakthrough in the course of the military actions: the enemy understood
that if the Armenians were able to capture that fortress, that meant they
could overcome anything. Within a week a corridor was opened between
Armenia and Karabakh, which was very important. At that time Armenians
again united for some time, but unfortunately that did not last long and
the process of this split is still going on today.


[Correspondent] Do you think that the Armenians stood the test of war, but
are not able to stand the test of peace?


[Sefelyan] I agree with this idea in the sense that we are unable to
develop, we cannot become strong. I think the reason for this is clear:
external forces are responsible for the situation which has arisen, though
there are also Armenians promoting the implementation of these programmes.
The goal is to weaken Armenia, because if one day we managed to unite, we
would become a problem not only for our regional neighbours, but also for
the whole world. To date we have not managed to achieve everything we
wanted to, and we are to blame for this. Nevertheless, I have a feeling
that this is not the worst period of time for us, and we still have a
chance to become stronger as a nation.


[Correspondent] The processes going on in the country are really dramatic.
Nine years ago it was difficult to imagine that those who liberated Shushi,
the heroes of the Karabakh war, would be in different camps and hold
different positions. Could you have imagined at that time that there would
be a split between the battle commanders? This is not a problem of
individuals at all. The problem lies deeper, it is a question of the moral
values of the nation.


[Sefelyan] If we take the lads who really took part in military action,
there is no split amongst them. But the authorities in our country have
repeated so often that military servicemen should not go in for politics
that these lads have always appeared in the circles of influence of one
political force or another. I think it is nonsense that military servicemen
should not go in for politics. They forget that 10 years ago, when an
Armenian man took up arms and went to fight, at that time he went in for
politics. An officer can go in for politics and not use his post and
abilities for political goals. But there must be a strict division between
these things. We go in for politics within the framework of law and order
and respecting laws. External forces, and probably the most venerable
institution in our country are trying to cause the split in our ranks which
you mentioned. Today these efforts have become more active and we,
servicemen, should not give in to provocation. I would like to add that I
do not see any ideological basis for a split. The split is nevertheless
happening. In such a case, politicians, not military men are responsible.


[Correspondent] Some servicemen assumed the right to do what they wanted,
using their military records as the justification for this.


[Sefelyan] We undoubtedly condemn such actions. We condemn much of what
Samvel Babayan did, he made a lot of mistakes. But the committee does not
defend Samvel Babayan's personality at all. We are defending a figure, a
symbol, created at the expense of the efforts and privations of the whole
nation. Such a figure has become a national treasure, the existence of
which lightened our load during the military actions which started in the
summer of 1992 up to 1994, when we had an established defence army. So we
are not defending the personality of Samvel Babayan, but the commander of a
victorious army, who is today being held in Shushi prison. In the same
prison where he was held 10 years ago by the Turks. This is a suppression
of our spirit - first he is proclaimed as a hero, then declared a traitor
and put into Shushi prison. Why did they make him a general? He did not
need it. I think they are more guilty than Samvel Babayan.


But behind all this we see a more serious danger: the return of the
liberated territories. All the political forces seem to agree with the fact
that we have to make some concessions. These territories today need
protection. That is why Samvel Babayan should be released. As for his guilt
in the terrorist act committed, we are sure that he did not give such an
order. I do not condemn Arkadiy Gukasyan. A whole programme is operating
here, in which the 27 October [1999 shootings in Armenian parliament] and
22 March [2000 attempt on life of Karabakh President Arkadiy Gukasyan] are
undoubtedly linked. Samvel is not guilty of this crime.


[Correspondent] Protection of the liberated territories really is a very
serious problem and the position of political forces compels us to be on
the alert. I think we should not link it with Babayan's personality, as
there will be strong forces in Armenia and in Karabakh able and ready to
provide this protection.


[Sefelyan] Undoubtedly, what is at issue here is not just Babayan. I am also
sure that there are strong forces in Armenia and they will manage to unite.
I am also sure that we, as a nation, will be able to stop the destructive
processes going on in Armenia today.


Today, on the day of Shushi's liberation, I would like to call on all
journalists and ask that not only the 9 May be celebrated, but also all the
other dates connected with the liberation of the seven regions. Let us
recall how this happened, how happy we were and fully appreciate the
significance of the fact that Armenian land has returned to its real owner.



In taking leave of Zhirayr, he answered bitterly when asked if he has
Armenian citizenship: "I have lived in Armenia for 10 years, but have not
yet obtained citizenship. Any rich man can build a kindergarten or
drugstore and obtain citizenship. In my case, it would seem that I am not
worthy of this. Nothing can be done - that is the way we Armenians are.


Source: Golos Armenii, Yerevan, in Russian, May 8 2001

[A.R.]

.

Baron, it obvious you have a "bitter taste" in your mouth for Tashnags...

[A.R.]

.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron Dants
The gymnasium was COVERED with at least 30 flags of Armenia., including a HUGE one (about the size of half the gym wall) right behind the podium.

Nari
Reminds one of Grey Wolves and Turks in general. Ara Baliozian is right when he says many of us are still Ottomanized.

Thanks for the report Paron, although nothing unexpected...



AR
Armenian flags how scary

[A.R.]

It is the 35th birthday of the ARF soldier, Vigen Zakarian who died like a
hero at the war of
Artsakh.
Vigen Zakarian was born in Beirut and was a member of the Lebanese Youth
Union (LYU). He
took an active part in preservation of the Armenian identity in Lebanon.
He arrived in Armenia in 1992 to participate in the Artsakh defense, then
he headed for Shushi to
fight for the liberation of Shushi. He died the same year, on May 8, 1992
during liberation of
Zarislu village near Shushi. He is buried in the Yerablur pantheon next to
his friends.
One of the Tsakhkadzor school classes has been named after Vigen Zakarian.
In addition, the
central hall of LYU has also been named after him. Vigen Zakarian was
presented with the medal
of courage.
"I want Ararat, I want freedom, independent and beautiful Armenia.
I want to see and kiss the land where Armenian peasants live, where
Armenian soldiers are, where
Armenian revolutionary blood rests," reads Zakarian's diary. He came to
Armenia not only to see
and defend but to die for the freedom of his motherland.

YERKIR

http://www.zavarian.org/en/artsakh/martyrs.asp?mID=1

http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/june_july/politics003.htm

[A.R.]

Lets see what the ENEMY azeris refer to the Armenians of Artsakh as...
The Enemy Azeris refer to Karabakh Armenians
as "Dashnak Separatists."

http://eng.kavkaz.memo.ru/newstext/engnews/id/644232.html

[Tres Bien]

Thank you indeed Baron D. very intresting reading.

If i am not misstaking, the dashnagtsakan of the diaspora was boycotting , and working agains soviet armenia because of it's "communism rule", the dashnags were complaining about how the didin't speak about the armenian genoicide in soviet armenia but at least people got a decent education, and shaped the armenian people in high cultural schooling.
but what were they doing ? besides beeing occupied with speaking badly about soviet- armenia!

[A.R.]

Dro, born in an Armenian part of western Turkey, was trained as a soldier in the Tsarist Russian army and decorated by the Tsar for bravery fighting the Turks in World War I. But when Russia withdrew from the war in 1918, Dro became a general in the new Armenian army. In the brief First Republic of Armenia from 1918 to 1920, he served as minister of war. After the Turks and Soviet Russians invaded again in 1920 and divided Armenia between them, Dro fled to Romania, where he lived until the end of World War II.

During this period, the anti-communist Dro had been accused of collaborating with the Nazis, although Armenian scholars say Dro only used his influence as a former military leader admired by the Germans to prevent Armenians from becoming victims of the Nazis.

"He was not a Nazi," said Professor Richard Hovannisian. "His main concern was the support and rescue of the Armenian people."

After the war, Dro lived in Beirut and then Watertown, remaining active as an Armenian nationalist until his death in 1956.

Dro's widow, who is wheelchair-bound and won't make the trip later this month to Armenia, admitted she has mixed feelings about the fulfillment of her husband's wish for repatriation.

"I feel that part of me is not going to be here anymore," Gayane Kanayan said. "But the government invited us to do this and we feel honored. He would be very happy. He loved his country so much that I have no right to say no."



"Dro represents the emerging Armenian desire to no longer be subservient, to stand up and resist, Dro represents the first generation of young Armenians who believed that only with force and weapons was it possible to gain Armenian freedom"

UCLA History Professor Richard Hovannisian

[xBaron Dants]

Ok, we have 25 articles about the Tashnagtsootyoon now. Well, that's nice, I guess. You do not really refer to anything I say, except in the last one, which cites Richard Hovannisian, himself a Tashnag to my knowledge.

Tres Bien, what was done then, in the Soviet era, is now done. I point out the past only to show that there is a certain trend to change history. As for who did what, I don't care anymore, because it no longer is relevant to me. Thew new generation was not involved in the Cold War era. We have new things to work on.

[xBaron Dants]

Oh, and in no ways do I want to discredit Richard Hovannisian as a historian in the above post. Just pointing out something.

Besides that, A.R., if the tashnagtsootyoon here hadn't tried so hard to put a bitter taste in my mouth, things may have been different. I can't help but question their priorities sometimes. Their REAL priorities, the ones they seem to be working for. Don't give me "azad, angakh, miatsyal Hayastan!!!!!". We've all heard that one.

[xBaron Dants]

Also, it is very normal for Azeris or Turks to blame any attacks on tashnags, because in the international community, the tashnagtsootyoon, whether we like it or not and whether we agree with it or not, is somewhat affiliated with terrorism. The Tashnags were also despised in the Soviet Union, because of their nationalism, so you can see where the Azeris took that from.

If you hadn't yet noticed, there is a VERY SUBTLE smear campaign against the Armenians in the Azeri media.