Parallel Reality: Armenian separatists and the Last Straw

The Armenian Parliament has adopted a statement on establishing peace with Azerbaijan. The document expresses support for the joint declaration of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, signed in Washington, and the initialing of the agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations.

Meanwhile, in Geneva...

The Armenian side has always tried to match its cathedrals to some important international events, to nestle at their side and shine in their aura. If there were no events, the Armenians held their hearings and discussions within the walls of some serious institution. First at the UN, then in Congress, then in the European Parliament, then somewhere else. This created a certain background that gave importance and internationality to the Armenian get-togethers, at least in their own eyes.

Armenian revanchists and separatists continue to use this method of self-esteem enhancement today. In parallel with the work of the UN General Assembly in New York, the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council was held in Geneva. And in parallel with this session, a party was organized there, in Geneva, dedicated to the "right" of Armenians to return to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that the event was not organized by the UN Human Rights Council, as the Armenian media is trying to present it. Although the shabby separatist Artak Beglaryan trumped the name of this structure, the party was actually organized by the International Christian Solidarity (CSI). There is such an organization that has devoted all its activities in recent years to protecting the interests of the Armenian separatists. CSI, together with Beglaryan and other destructive elements, is bombarding the UN with demands to appoint a special rapporteur on Karabakh and ensure the return of Armenians to Karabakh, from where they left completely voluntarily and with music.

CSI assisted the separatists in the person of Beglaryan in organizing a gathering next to the UN Human Rights Council, and the fact that it was held in parallel with the Council session added additional urgency to the Armenian whining.

CSI tries very hard, describing in its "Christian" messages how the legitimate owners of the liberated territories are restoring them, erasing the traces of the occupation. Christian Solidarity clearly does not know what the UN is asking for. Because no one, no serious organization, will take action against Baku because of the demolished buildings in Khankendi, the demolished memorials and the reconstruction of settlements. Why? Because the whole world, with the exception, apparently, of CSI, knows how to use the Internet and knows what Azerbaijani cities, villages and monuments were turned into during the years of the Armenian occupation. For every snot-soaked photo of a demolished separatist facility, the Azerbaijani side will always be able to post thousands of evidence against the CSI wards. This truth may or may not be accepted, but it is impossible to hide from it. No Christian solidarity, real or feigned, can justify what the Armenians have done. The whining of the CSI and the separatists under the care of the organization will not cope with this array of facts and evidence.

That's why the UN does not deal with this issue, and that's why even international institutions loyal to the Armenians are limited to meaningless documents.

Attempts to pass off their party as a UN event are very touching. In various resources, a lady with a determined face, Abi McDougal, who is a representative of Christian Solidarity, is presented as the "chief representative of the United Nations." The fact is that CSI, like thousands of other NGOs around the world, has consultative status with the United Nations, but its members cannot represent themselves as representatives of the United Nations. This is manipulation, and the Armenian opposition media are doing just that, deceiving their audience.

The participation of Swiss deputies in the event also does not give any status. The only notable person at the party was lawyer Paul Williams. The Professor of International Law is an ardent advocate of the concept of self-determination of peoples. In the destructive sense of the term. He has developed a model of "earned sovereignty," which has been hoped for in Armenia for many years. This model was applied in Kosovo. William said: "I think Serbia has not understood that Kosovo is no longer part of Serbia, that it is an independent country on the right path to Europe." Who remembers, the same words were uttered in Yerevan and Khankendi about "Artsakh", they say, being an "established independent and democratic state", following the European path, and so on. The neighbors could not understand why the West recognized Kosovo, but did not recognize the "earned sovereignty" of occupied Karabakh.

In response to their perplexity, the Armenians heard "there are no identical conflicts." Exactly. Just as there is no such thing as "earned sovereignty."

Artak Beglaryan and others who cannot accept Azerbaijan's restoration of its sovereignty continue to talk about some kind of legal basis for the return of Armenians to Karabakh, the need for international pressure on Baku, some kind of political will of the world community and other things that cannot change the realities in any way.

The Armenian leadership has recognized these realities, and the cries of the opposition, the separatist elite and the revanchists have no weight in international organizations. And the Armenian leadership is already beginning to perceive the situation correctly and see the consequences of attempts to change it. Speaking at the PACE session in Strasbourg the other day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking about the possibility of the return of Armenians, stated: "I'm saying bluntly that I don't think it's realistic. Moreover, I attach great importance to honesty in this matter so that people can build their own perspectives and plans. In this context, I consider the issue of the return of refugees to be dangerous for the peace process." Armenia and Azerbaijan have already recognized the territorial integrity and inviolability of each other's borders on the basis of the Alma Ata Declaration. And we should focus on this formula and work on its implementation. "Simply put, Armenia and Azerbaijan should leave each other alone for the coming decades and focus on developing economic cooperation and a step-by-step dialogue," Pashinyan said.

Azerbaijan is ready to leave its neighbor alone to the extent that he adheres to Pashinyan's formula. Azerbaijan doesn't need anything from its neighbors except for them to learn how to behave like neighbors. Attempts by the Armenian opposition to change the course of the processes will not lead to anything good. Because the Azerbaijani side has a lot to show for it.