Speech by Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia at the University for Peace
October 19, 2006
In this conference of experts, I feel right at home. I am, by default, an expert on Diaspora. I was born in Syria, the heart of the Armenian Diaspora, came to the homeland for the first time as a Diasporan student — and today, I am foreign minister of that homeland which has more of its nationals living in Diaspora, than at home.
I appreciate the fact that this panel is to tackle the challenges and opportunities of Transnational Identities. We are in fact transnational as a consequence of today's homeland-diaspora relationships. It is not just those living in diaspora who have this multiple identity, but it is also those in the homeland whose identity alters, ever so slightly even, because of the diaspora and its perceptions, expressions of who we are. I believe the opportunities that this new, multilayered, identity produces are greater than the challenges.
Diaspora is an old concept that has just come home, that has found itself. In these days of easy, quick and inexpensive air travel, easy, quick and inexpensive telephone calls, easy, quick and inexpensive internet access, being in Diaspora no longer means permanent disconnection, distance, inaccessibilility and alienation from the memories and experiences of childhood, from a homeland and a home. Today Diaspora means an extension of the homeland – not a permanent dislocation, not a destructive dispersion, but life at a distance, that can even be beneficial.
On the one hand, the Armenian Diaspora experience is the archetypal example of diasporas. The very first studies of diaspora were quick to mention Armenians, Jews, and soon after the Africans, as the quintessential examples.
On the other hand, ours is not the traditional duality. Our history, our reality, and therefore, the diaspora-homeland relationship is more complex than that.
Let me explain. The Armenian Diaspora, historically, began as those who permanently left the traditional Armenian homeland. That's how the Armenian community of
Until the early 20th century, the Diaspora was the appendage, while most Armenians lived on the historic homeland, under some combination of Russian, Ottoman or Persian domination. It was the Genocide of 1915 that resulted in a mass exodus from the traditional homelands. The size of the Armenian Diaspora today is due largely to that wave of settlement. They were pushed out of their homes, and if they didn't die along the deportation route, then they made it to the countries of the
The size of the Diaspora has grown during the last 20 years as a result of migration from the Soviet Armenian Republic, and until very recently, the independent
Thus, Armenians of the Diaspora have three sources of identity:
1. The host countries in which they live today;
2. the homeland I represent regardless of whether that was their place of origin or not, and
3. the country of origin – the place that offered refuge between the homeland and the host countries of today.
That is just one characteristic that makes our situation a bit unusual. The second is that our numbers are the opposite of the traditional balance – we have 5 million and more Armenians living outside
The impact of all this on the Armenia-Diaspora relationship is multilayered. Let me try to describe some of those layers, including economic ones, and then finally talk about the reality and the potential for homeland-diaspora relations in the context of political stability and peace.
First, we have multiple identities, not just dual identities. Our homeland, the host country, and our country of origin all have a place in our hearts. The networks, the experiences, the know-how, that come with intimate knowledge and deep contacts in three places is invaluable. From the perspective of the homeland, this means that we benefit from even greater contacts, ties and links. On the other hand, our foreign relations, our bilateral relations are sometimes complicated by the diverse and wide-ranging circumstances in those communities. This complication arises partly from the reality that we may be an old nation, but a very new nation-state. Our assumptions and actions are based on our experiences as a nation. The nation-state is, for us, a new phenomenon, with new, unknown, rules.
Second, a Diaspora as old as ours is highly structured. For centuries, our communities have been forced to regulate their social and cultural life, and as a result, churches, organizations, political parties even have a long tradition of community self-governance, especially considering that this was a Diaspora whose homeland was not a sovereign state for most of its history. Therefore, having such structures and institutions with which the homeland can interact allows for more productive and predictable relations. At the same time, because the Diaspora is highly structured, new mechanisms for new kinds of interaction are difficult to create.
Third, you are a member of the Diaspora only when you say you are. In order to say you are, you must identify with the homeland which defines it. One wants to identify with that which is strong, beautiful, proud. Our Diaspora is no longer suffering or starving. Neither should
Finally, the size of the Diaspora leads to high expectations all around — on the part of the Diaspora itself, the homeland and the international community. With such a large number of Armenians living abroad, and with most of them comfortable, professional and settled, it is easy to hope for investments in large numbers, generally massive and significant Diaspora involvement and engagement, and resettlement perhaps.
The Diaspora's charitable and philanthropic giving predates
And it is true that there are large amounts of humanitarian assistance – from individuals and organizations – pouring in. I know that scholars like Khachig Tololyan and others are constantly trying to put numbers on this kind of assistance. I don't have them. But that kind of generosity and largesse is visible throughout the country. Renovated schools, improved infrastructure, educational and training programs, health care assistance – all made possible by donations from the Diaspora. The Diaspora's humanitarian engagement is more visible, has quick impact and is easier to accomplish. The donor feels good, quickly, and is not overwhelmed or bound by long term obligations.
Individual remittances, too, continue to be significant for
It's economic investment that fuels long-term sustainability. Diaspora engagement in IT, tourism, diamond and jewelry production all have Diasporans at the other end of the network. The significance of this kind of networking is obvious.
The challenge for homelands is how to increase such high-impact participation. Helping the homeland in the humanitarian sphere is comparatively easy. The challenge is to find ways to use diaspora networks and know-how to bring in lasting cooperation, making it as satisfying as the easy, quick donation.
Now let me talk about homeland-diaspora relations in the context of political stability and peace. The
If I can somewhat oversimplify and quickly summarize our foreign relations challenges in three key policy areas, the mostly complementary, sometimes differing views and needs of homeland and diaspora become clear.
1. On the Resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenians in Diaspora and
2. On Genocide recognition, Armenians in Diaspora and in
3. On relations with
We agree with them. But as authorities responsible for people's security and prosperity, we also know that all three of these painful, complex challenges have to be resolved with the future in mind, not the past.
On the Nagorno Karabakh situation, we want a lasting resolution. That must be based on a respect of the Nagorno Karabakh population's right to self-determination, to choose their own future. It must be based on compromise by all parties. It must be based with an eye to
On genocide recognition, for Armenians in
The Diaspora has an important role to play in this process. They are largely the victims and the descendants of the victims. Yet Armenians are the ones extending their hands for dialog.
Unfortunately,
These are the complex foreign relations issues that the Diaspora has the opportunity to explain. Diaspora involvement, albeit at a distance, in the resolution of these conflicts and in the search for lasting understanding is necessary and useful. It is a way for all of us to make the past work for the future.
Thank you.
Source:
PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: 374.10.523531
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