12-05-2016 11:54:22 | Ռուսաստան | Articles and Analyses
To the President of Russian Federation
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!
I, Mikaelian Artashes, have been a citizen of Russian Federation for 23 years. During these years I have been cherishing a great wish to share with You, Dear President, my thoughts and reflections about historical role of Russia in the world’s economic and political life. My thoughts and conclusions are the result of a thorough analysis of the events that take place in the world and in our country.
My desire to write a letter to You, Mr. President, reached its peak on March 16, when our country was celebrating the second anniversary of Russia’s reunion with the Crimea. In March 15 all Russian TV channels showed the film devoted to the Crimean events. Our victory in the Crimea is an event of great significance for future generations of our people. The creators of this victory made an eternal monument to themselves in the hearts of millions of people who love their Motherland. All this was achieved under Your guidance.
Every Armenian worldwide with deep respect and joy shares this victory of historical justice and people’s will. Your words: Restoration of historical justice and people’s will were received by Armenians all over the world as a national idea of the Armenian people and Armenian state. These feelings of the Armenians sound more convincing against the background of Russian – Armenian friendly relations. Since early XIX century Russia was the only state that supported Armenia in her fight for establishing her national sovereignty. Thus, in 1804 an officer of the Russian army, major Mantresor, and his detachment was fighting against Persians and perished in Armenia in the region of Spitak. The heroic deed of the Russian officer was immortalized by Armenian classic writer Khachatur Abovian in his historical novel Wounds of Armenia. In his introduction to the book the author writes: Blessed be the hour when the foot of the Russian soldier stepped on the sanctified Armenian land. Many generations of Armenian people were brought up in this spirit of the writer.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union Russia opened her doors before people from the sovereign Republic of Armenian. With the help of the kind-hearted Russian people coupled with their creative labour Armenians managed to get integrated into the Russian reality and thus to provide an average life standard for their families in Armenia. If our classic writer Khachatur Abovian were alive, he would exclaim: Blessed be the Russian sanctified land that lavishly rendered to Armenians shelter and a possibility to live and prosper.
Historical facts tell that in the period of XVI – XIX centuries Russia was fighting with Turkey 12 times; and every time a lot of Armenians glorified both Russia and their own country by taking part in Russian – Turkish wars. Among them the following names are to be mentioned: A. Suvorov (whose mother was an Armenian duchess Manukova), I. Aivazovsky, A. Vaganova, A. Khachaturian, P. Lisitsian, Z. Dolukhanova, the Lasarevs, Marshals of the USSR I. Bagramian, A. Babadjanian, S. Khudyakov (A. Khanferyants) (all the three born in Nagorno – Karabakh), Admiral of the Fleet I. Isakov, a number of Soviet generals, nuclear physicists N. Shelkovnikov (Metaksyan) and A. Alikhanov, general constructor of Soviet ammunition S. Kocharian, creator of the Soviet lunar roverA.Kemurdjan, aircraft designer A. Mikoyan, Hero of the Soviet Union – elite of Soviet foreign intelligence service G. Vardanian and many other outstanding personalities who became famous as “children” of the Russian people.
The greatest event of the XXth century was the Second World War of 1941 – 1945 in which about 600000 Armenians took part. During the war the population of Armenia was equal to 1 mln. people while the US population exceeded 100 mln. people, viz. 100 times as many as Armenian population. The losses in killed Americans made 250000 people while the Armenian losses made 350000 people. During the Second World War Armenians who live abroad rendered substantial help to the Soviet Union: with the material means collected by Armenian diasporas under the direct leadership of all-Armenian Catholicos Chorekchyan (by agreement with I.V. Stalin) two squadrons (an air squadron and a tank squadron) were formed and sent to the front. The squadrons were named after Marshal I. Bagramian and Hero of the Soviet Union Nelson Stepanian.
In spite of the great men losses in the war and due to the power of Armenian spirit the Armenian people managed to restore science, culture, education and economy of their Republic and to make a considerable contribution into the cause of development of the post-war Soviet Union.
It is proved by the history that during the last three centuries Armenia was constantly in the blockade ring on the part of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Under such conditions Russia has always been a most friendly country and the only strategic ally of Armenia. Good friendly relations with Russia contribute to the preservation of national identity and geopolitical and economic independence of Armenia. Friendship and fraternity of the two ancient peoples have been checked by centuries-old history. No market partner interests should get a priority in the relations and policies between Armenian and Russian peoples and states.
Both Russians and Armenians are committed to Christian religion; they possess rich centuries-old cultures, invincible national spirit and are able to resist any home and foreign violence and intervention. Historically confirmed friendly relations based on mutual confidence and respect are the basis of eternal friendship between our countries. These values allow our states in case of conflicts to communicate at the round table of talks and, what is more important, to share a stable common doctrine and strategy of national ideology and policy.
Russia is a polyethnic state on the Eurasian continent. It possesses 40% of the world natural resources. The Russian people is committed to Orthodoxy. The outstanding Russian Tsar Peter I who “opened the window into Europe” brought to Russia German education system: in the Russian court the nobility, Russian by origin, spoke German and French. In fact Peter I “opened the window into Russia”, the window through which europeans with the help of English mediators exported from Russia its wealth: furs, timber and other natural resources that enriched european countries. England, and later the USA, considered Russia to be raw material appendage for the development of their national industry and financial oligarchy.
As early as the beginning of the XVIII century in the circles of Russian thinkers and intelligence there was a discussion about political and economic orientation of Russia, the discussion resulted in favour of the Europeans. It is well-known that the great Russian writer A.S. Pushkin considered that Russia with her rich history and ancient culture should build “a strategy” of her own based on her own experience and history. The great poet wrote: “Only barbarians do not need and do not love their own history.”
The history of the last three centuries testifies that underestimation of national identity of the country, its raw materials and other values of the Russian state brought to a considerable man power and brain drain and flow of the greater part of national wealth out from Russia. Russian immigrants have become powerful donors that contributed the development of advanced science, technologies, culture and economies in Europe and America. Unfortunately, nowadays this process is still going on. It is worth mentioning that if the so-called world financial empire was not able to subdue Russia by turning it to their raw material appendage, in the last hundred years it managed to inflict serious losses to Russian economy and politics by means of thoroughly planned political diversions, crises and colour revolutions, which in their turn, brought a lot of harm to Russian statehood.
For about three last centuries the world economy and state policy under the guidance of “invisible” financial empire realizes its goal according to the pattern: “the world lived, the world lives and the world will live in the regime of a permanent economic war.” This policy is accompanied by various armed activities and political diversions. The final ideological and political goal of the financial empire (US and European Unity) is to acquire maximum profit. The events of the XX and XXI centuries have shown that for the financial empire human life, nation and state are of no value. If something or somebody prevents it from getting due profit, the empire destroys everything and everybody without taking into account either the world community or the UNO. A great number of cases are an eloquent proof to this.
It is only strong political will and state doctrine, people’s unity, confidence, persistence in achieving the goal and wise strategic and tactic monitoring of the situation that can resist the world financial empire and win in the fight with it.
The Crimea operation will undoubtedly enter the textbooks on military strategies. In 1954 according to the decision of Central Committee of CPSU an act of historical injustice was committed in relation to the Crimea: a part of land from mother- Russia was cut off and annexed to the Ukrain. Reuniting of the Crimea with Russia was received by the Russian people as a demonstration of execution of its will. It was a historic reality. This act makes the beginning of a new epoch and a new way of thinking in the history of the world politics.
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia by opening her doors wide before the civilized world showed her readiness to establish good- neighbor relations with the whole world. The planet of Earth is made in such a way that rivers and oceans often make natural borders between countries and states. The rivers’ banks and oceans’ shores should become reliable supports for building bridges of friendship and fraternity between people. Russia has always followed and is still following this logic.
After Russia’s reuniting with the Crimea the world financial empire under the leadership of the US and EU announced a new economic war against Russia. However, powerful economic potential and sufficient resources allow Russia in a short historical period to pass to a new model of self-sufficiency and antisanctional policy by banning the import into Russia of goods from the US and EU countries. In the opinion of some European analysts application of sanctions on the part of the USA and EU means Russia’s loss in the economic competition with the West. Meanwhile Russia has adequate antisanctions to oppose to any acts of violence and to any sanctions. It is a common truth that any loss is a lesson of victory. In the present serious geopolitical situation Russia confronts two serious challenges – the sanctions on the part of the USA and EU and a “stab in the back” on the part of Turkey.
The policy of imported goods substitution for home goods accompanied by application of modern scientific technologies will create an ideology of a complete tipping point in the country’s economy – its change from raw material appendage to the deep industrial processing of raw materials. Effective use of internal scientific technological potential will make it possible to meet home demands and will reduce the economy segments of the US and EU for which Russia had been an open market before. Then the sanctions as a boomerang will inflict a blow to own economies of the countries that directed them to Russia. Thus, the introduction of adequate economic policy in Russia will turn the sanctions meant for Russia from a negative factor into a positive one. Moreover, such policy will stimulate the development of Russian national economy.
In November 24 2015 A Russian bomber SU – 24 was shot by Turkey on the territory of Syria. The reaction of Russia was laconic: “a stab in the back”. Not having received any apology on the part of Turkey, Russian diplomacy keeps silent, though the position of the country was clearly expressed within diplomatic circles.
It is a well-known fact that on 16th March 1921 in Moscow an Agreement of Friendship and Brotherhood was signed between Turkey and Russia. A year before, in 1920, Russia and Turkey signed an Agreement in the town of Sevr according to which Turkey was to pass to Armenia 4 regions (100 000 square km). By Moscow Agreement the Sides annulled all previously signed Agreements between the two countries. According to the Moscow agreement, Russia transferred to Turkey 10 mln. roubles in gold and some conventional armaments (according to the list) without any compensation. By signing this agreement Turkey finally “solved” the Armenian problem at the expense of the territory belonging to the Russian empire.
Some days before the Agreement of 1921 Turkey with Russian arms committed a slaughter of 10000 Armenians in the region of Javachk. Actually a hundred years ago Turkey inflicted the first global “stab in the back” to the young Russian state. At that time this action of Turkey was viewed as an international victory of Turkish diplomacy in the process of “restoring historical justice” in relation to the Armenian problem. As was shown by the further events, both a hundred years ago and now Turkey was insincere and still keeps on being insincere trying to gain favourable position by cheating her partners.
If a hundred years ago when Turkey had made her first stab in Russia’s back the latter kept silent, now this is impossible. Turkey’s only key to solving problems and the only language of state policy is the sword (!) and it is only with a sword in hand that this country admits friendship and fraternity between peoples.
Andranik, a general of Russian army, Armenian by origin, warned that the Turks are not to be believed. In his words “a Turk always remains a Turk”. History proves that to gain his aim a Turk is able to any mean deed. A sword has always been and still is the national tool in the foreign policy of Osman Turkey, be it in the times of Ataturk or the times of Erdogan.
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovitch! You are the warrantor and the pride of the Russian people and Russian State. We are grateful to You for the past and future of Russian – Armenian el friendship.
I dare ask You a question: Will the Moscow Agreement of Friendship and Fraternity between Russia and Turkey from 16 March 1921 be ever reconsidered and will its consequences be ever liquidated?
According to the Moscow Agreement of 1921 Armenian territories of Nagorno – Karabakh and Nahidjevan as autonomous units were transferred to Azerbaijan without taking into consideration the will of the population of these regions. It is worth mentioning that the first Catholicos of Karabakh region was Grigoris – the son of Grigory the Elucidator, the founder of Christianity in Armenia (301 AD). The rate of the number of Christian churches per one square unit has been the highest on the planet of Earth since the IVth century AD up to now.
In 1991 the population of Nagorno – Karabakh (99,94 %) voted for the separation of the region from Azerbaijan and for the establishing of Nagorno – Karabakh Republic. According to the Central Committee of CPSU decision of 1954 a part of Russia (the Crimea) was cut off from Russia and transferred to the Ukaine; likewise the regions of Nagorno – Karabakh and Nahidjevan were cut off from Armenia and included into Azerbaijan as autonomous units.
Armenians all over the world are apt to ask a question: Why the reunion of the Crimea with Russia as a right and an execution of will of the Russian people received juridical confirmation on the part of Russian state, but the people of Nagorno – Karabakh cannot enjoy the same right for their peaceful life?