A NEW POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR ARMENIANS
Political realism would instruct us that we should not expect a quick and easy resolution for the issue of Genocide recognition, yet we were shocked when our expectations hit a wall; President Obama avoided using the "G" word in his first Martyr's Day statement, although he came halfway around with his other statements made during his Ankara trip. This means that we will continue the campaign and hold the president accountable on his pledge. If we can conduct an effective campaign, we may expect him to deliver on his commitment perhaps before his term expires and he seeks Armenian votes for his second term. That will be a good opportunity to ask him to use the "G" word, while he is still in the Oval Office. At that time there will be no difference between candidate Obama and President Obama.
If 94 years of struggle has not consumed our resolve, we can still go a long way to have the Genocide recognized by the US government and other governments around the world.
While that remains our long-term goal, we have immediate political challenges to face. The State Department had made its assessment of the Caucasus region during the previous administration and that assessment, it seems, has been transmitted intact to the Obama administration. Certainly there are a host of foreign policy issues which have not been subjected to reviews — nor even they will never be. Although President Obama has shifted the US policy towards the Middle East and has made conciliatory gestures to the irate Muslim world — recklessly bombed and intimidated by the previous administration — the change does not cover the entire gamut of foreign policy issues.
The neocons of the Bush administration had learned one single adage from their guru, Bernard Lewis, that Muslims had conquered the world through the sword and one thing they respect most is power. That adage may have had some truth in it in the Middle Ages, but in the modern world it blew up in the administration's face, and that is why we are in the predicament in which the US finds itself. President Obama distinctively moved away from that cynical philosophy and hopefully that policy change would be rewarded with some peace dividends.
It seems that the State Department will continue the policy inherited from the previous administrations, which will be very handy for the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to pay back on her earlier deals with Turkish lobbyists.
While the onus of the Genocide issue rests on the president, recent punitive acts directed toward Armenia are definitely connected at the Foggy Bottom.
It was not enough that the administration dramatically reduced annual aid to Armenia, while increasing Azerbaijan's share; now we see another slap on the face, which will directly affect the daily life of the Armenian people. Indeed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has cut its programs in Armenia by about $67 million. The decision was made on June 10 at the meeting of the US government's MCC Board of Directors chaired by Hillary Clinton.
The MCC program started in Armenia in September 2006. During five years, $235 million was allocated for the implementation of the program in Armenia. The amount was allocated every quarter based on Armenia's application of democratic standards. It was scheduled to cover 750,000 farmers or 75 percent of the republic's rural population. Road construction and repair of irrigation systems are the main components of the program.
Natalia Leshchenko of the World Markets Research Center states that "the Armenian government will not see $67 million earmarked under the 2006 agreement, which overall pledged $235.5 million of assistance until 2011, of which $160 million is to be channeled into road construction and repairing, and this will certainly lead to a halt on projects currently underway." It looks like the decision is irreversible.
The same source cites the following as a reason for this tough action: "The US Department of State, which guides the MCC on democratic criteria, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in Armenia since the controversial February 2008 presidential election and warned the government of possible funds withdrawal should no improvement be made. The May 31 mayoral election in the capital Yerevan, which the opposition contested as flawed, was the last straw for the US agencies. The MCC withdrew infrastructure repair funding, stressing that the decision was irreversible and laying the blame squarely on the Armenian authorities."
Those who are familiar with the lamentable road conditions in the rural areas of Armenia will understand the full impact of this punishing act toward the people in the affected area. The blow is directed to the people rather than the government, which was blamed for failing on its democratic record.
This action is purely motivated by politics; it is selective application of democratic standards. Next-door-neighbor Azerbaijan recently held a referendum to change the constitution and make Ilham Aliyev president for life, in a way restoring the medieval Khanate system. And while doing that Aliyev has jailed journalists and killed opposition leaders. And for all these "democratic" actions, Azerbaijan was rewarded by an increase in US aid. Further, President Obama continued the Bush policy on Article 901 of Freedom Support Act, which banned the sale of military hardware to Azerbaijan. President Bush had usurped the Congress' voice in turning the implementation of the act into an executive privilege.
The State Department action has a broader political implication than simply the application of democratic standards in Armenia or in Azerbaijan. The Baku government, by its brazen actions, has already rendered the democratic excuse into a laughing stock. Indeed, here Armenia is a victim of superpower competition in the Caucasus. As Russia tightens the noose around Georgia, a client state of Washington, the US as been retaliating in kind by punishing Armenia, which, in turn is perceived as a client state of Moscow. Just a few days ago, Russia used its veto power at the Security Council, ending the mandate of the UN observers on the Georgia-Abkhazia border, declaring that Abkhazia is a sovereign country now.
Besides, the May 31 Yerevan Mayoral elections were contested only by the opposition, which is expected in any country, but they were approved by the European Union observers.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration consistently tried to destabilize Armenia. One only needs to listen to the US-funded Radio Free Europe to be convinced of that policy. It looks like the Obama administration has inherited that policy. And adding insult to injury, now comes this punishing action from the MCC, a blow to a helpless nation, which contravenes Mr. Obama's high-moral rhetoric.
In principle, the USAID should not have any strings attached. In particular, it should not be used as a political tool to wreak havoc on the domestic policy of the recipient country. Recently, the Bolivian government complained bitterly that USAID was supporting opposition groups in the country. It is ironic that opposition parties are the rich landowners in Bolivia, whose region is trying to secede from the rest of that poor country.
It is no coincidence that US Ambassador to Armenia, Marie Yovanovitch, is being dispatched to the US to do some explaining to the Armenian communities here.
Like all her predecessors, Ms. Yovanovitch has ingratiated herself in Armenia. However, she is coming to put a smiling face on a terrible act by her superiors. Therefore, our first line of challenge will be to ask her all the blistering questions, with all due respect. After completing her US tour, she should leave no doubt in her report to the State Department that the Armenian community is incensed regarding this uncalled for and unsustainable action and that the community will mobilize to respond in kind any time — and in any way it can.
The next confrontation is with the legislature; in addition to our lobbying groups, every Armenian should pester Congressmen and the Senators to make sure our voices are heard.
The US has a determining voice on the destiny of most countries, and certainly on Armenia. Armenia cannot discover oil or any other resources to make itself indispensable. How can it change its alliances, as long as Turkey is watching on the border. Therefore, Armenia's defense lines begin there, in this country. We need to take up the challenge to politicize the community and rise with our voice in defense of Armenia.
- By Edmond Y. Azadian
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