Armenian History in Crisis: Mirzoyan, Textbook and Colosseum

The 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of Ancient Civilizations was held in Yerevan. Mirzoyan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, took his place among representatives of ancient civilizations and opened the event with a heartfelt speech. He complained that such an "ancient civilization" as Armenia "constantly faces attempts to distort history and appropriate cultural heritage." He spoke about countering incitement to hatred and discord, using history as a justification for territorial claims (!!!), and lamented how much Armenia suffers from this. Mirzoyan also took the opportunity to highlight the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Remarkably, Armenia is described as "an active member of the committee for the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict and is trying to contribute to global efforts in this area" (!!!)...

Such arguments by the Armenian Foreign Minister are an outright mockery of international law. A country that has completely destroyed the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people during its years of occupation is now lecturing others about the protection of cultural heritage in conflicts. But let’s leave that on the conscience of the Armenians. If peace is not achieved, they will bear the responsibility, as the irreparable damage to Azerbaijani heritage—destroyed by Armenia over thirty years—is estimated in the billions. International organizations that appoint Armenia to such committees should also have a conscience.

Let’s not spoil our mood. Let’s have a laugh.

Armenia is the only country in the world where history is taught from two different textbooks in schools. This is no joke. In the current academic year, 7th-grade students were given a choice between two history textbooks. One presents traditional myths, while the other reflects facts closer to objective reality.

More precisely, the choice was not given directly to the seventh graders but to the schools. Every school in Armenia has the right to choose which program to teach—mythical or realistic. Judging by the level of parental hysteria that has shaken school corridors and courtrooms since last year, it is rare for a school to select the second option for fear of facing the wrath of angry parents. Parents fear that their children will grow up to be normal people, rather than "true Armenians" in the worst sense of the term.

In October of this year, the fighters against reality finally won a hard-fought battle against the government, which had attempted to stop the zombification of young Armenians. In short, the history of the issue is as follows: in 2023, a new textbook was written for the 7th grade, in which the territories of Azerbaijan were no longer classified as "ancient Armenian." The new textbook featured a correct map of Armenia, along with many other "flaws." An uproar followed immediately, but the government did not recall the textbook, and, to the horror of many, the children of the "true Armenians" studied from it until the end of the year. However, in the current academic year, parents took a stand and ensured that the previous textbook, which had been recognized by the Ministry of Education as not conforming to standards, was reinstated. Armenian society turned out to be mentally unprepared to accept objective reality. The court overturned the Ministry of Education’s decision, and since November, everything has returned to its former state. Armenian seventh graders can once again survey the boundless expanses of their country "from sea to sea."

Arsen Torosyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the ruling Civil Contract party, once made a statement that caused great displeasure among the opposition. He said that the Armenian people have suffered a very difficult fate. Besides the fact that they have to destroy over 100 years of myths and stereotypes, they also have to completely dismantle the 1,700-year-old myth created by the church. This statement was made in the context of Nikol Pashinyan's call for a struggle for "real Armenia." The Prime Minister urged Armenians to abandon "historical Armenia" in favor of "real Armenia." "Historical Armenia," he believes, is a guarantee of long-term hostility with several neighboring countries and prevents the possibility of independent existence, meaning the country will always need external patrons.

That was well said. However, as it turns out, the reforms are intended only for internal purposes, while in the international arena, the traditional Armenian propaganda remains unchanged.

The conference "History in Crisis" was recently held in Strasbourg. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Artur Martirosyan delivered a heartfelt speech on how history should and should not be taught, without forgetting to make inappropriate curtsies to Europe.

"The culture of peace begins with an innovative, citizen-oriented education that gives young people the opportunity to critically reflect on history. Armenia is committed to this cause and supports initiatives that bring historical truth to the fore," said Martirosyan, who saw some role for the Council of Europe in these achievements. History, he said, "should serve as a foundation of truth and mutual understanding to promote peace and reconciliation, not as a tool to promote divisive or misleading programs."

It is quite amusing to hear an Armenian official talk about "how easily distorted historical facts can incite hatred and perpetuate cycles of conflict," and about the inadmissibility of "hate speech in history textbooks, which in turn encourages regional global aggression, intolerance, and racism." Martirosyan stressed the need to teach "an accurate and balanced history that respects diversity and rejects all forms of hatred and discrimination, preventing ethnic cleansing, hate conflicts, and crimes against humanity."

It turns out that in Armenia, they know perfectly well how to do it, but for some reason, they always do the opposite. It is clear that Martirosyan directed his remarks at Azerbaijan, but in reality, he inadvertently revealed exactly what has been happening in Armenian historical scholarship for the past century.

THE WORD TO THE EXPERT

Rizvan Huseynov, historian and political scientist, Director of the Center for the History of the Caucasus:

"Since this topic has come up, I would like to remind you of one characteristic fact from 'antiquity,' just in time for the Forum of Ancient Civilizations in Yerevan. Namely, the case of the map of the Roman Empire displayed on the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, which allegedly shows 'Great Armenia.' This fact is promoted in Armenian historical science as the primary proof of the ancient origins of Armenia. At the same time, our neighbors are not at all bothered by the fact that the boundaries of the continents on this map are depicted in modern outlines with a level of precision that could only be achieved by photographing it from space. They continue to claim that the map is thousands of years old, and everything on it is true...

When our neighbors talk about distorting history, using it as a tool, or about right and wrong history textbooks, it’s impossible not to be surprised. Although I can understand the concerns of Ararat Mirzoyan or the Deputy Minister of Education. In recent years, the false ideological framework of ancient Armenian history has been seriously undermined by numerous facts, archival materials, and ancient sources that present a completely different narrative regarding the origin, history, ancestral homeland, and settlement of Armenians. And, accordingly, the ownership of Azerbaijani territories by them. Once this truth was suppressed, but now it is starting to be reflected in the school curriculum in Azerbaijan. This is what Yerevan is trying to portray as 'distorting history,' or as state support for hate speech in history textbooks, and so on. We have just begun to learn our history as it truly is. We wish the same for our neighbors. They need it even more than we do.

An interesting scene unfolded during the recent UN discussions on the report about Armenia. Honestly, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Kostanyan, deserves sympathy; he suffered so much when he was asked uncomfortable questions. He was asked directly: Why is there such frenzied agitation against Azerbaijan? Why is the Nazi collaborator Nzhdeh being glorified? Why is there not a single Azerbaijani in Armenia? The Armenian deputy minister could not provide a substantial answer, blushed, and began to spout nonsense unrelated to the topic. He mentioned the economic situation, "refugees," and so on. This is what is called a stream of consciousness.

Armenian officials, when discussing history, often contradict themselves. On one hand, they must admit that the Armenian historical narrative contradicts the basic principles of human rights and democracy, yet on the other hand, they continue to promote false narratives. As long as the Armenian side remains entrenched in such a mindset, there will be no stability for Armenia—neither in its public discourse nor in its politics. It will remain a hotbed of discord and destabilization in the South Caucasus. And this situation will persist for a long time because, for any change to occur, Armenia will need to abandon most of its unfounded fantasies."