Political commentator Hakob Badalyan wrote:
“Nikol Pashinyan expressed several thoughts today about the Armenia-Diaspora relationship, and dangerous thoughts, and of course, as always, also manipulative. By the way, it is noteworthy that he addressed the topic in response to a question from Public TV, which may be a basis for at least assuming that the reference was planned. I repeat, this is of course an assumption. But that is not the essence.
Nikol Pashinyan has stated again that we do not need “second-hand”. Here is the manipulation, because the Armenia-Diaspora relationship has never been based on the logic of “second-hand”. Yes, in the first years of independence, during the war years, Armenia needed everything and there could have been such donations, assistance, etc. But, that was not the entirety and axis of the Armenia-Diaspora relationship. Moreover, many countries also provided such assistance to Armenia.
Pashinyan stated that the Armenia-Diaspora relationship should be built on economic and educational programs. And he presented several other examples of the Firebird company, Tumo. For some reason, he forgot the example of Ruben Vardanyan, who, in essence, as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, having formed in the Diaspora, began to make major investments in Armenia a decade ago in both the economy and education, which had even generational significance, changing the face of individual regions of Armenia. By the way, Vardanyan also made investments in Artsakh with that logic.
As a businessman and philanthropist, Samvel Karapetyan, who was formed in the Diaspora, has implemented and is implementing major economic and charitable programs in Armenia. Vache Manukyan, Eduardo Eurnekyan, Kirk Kerkorian, Noubar Afeyan, Vardan Gregorian, Alex Manukyan, and many other Diaspora Armenians have implemented economic, infrastructural, and educational programs in Armenia, including in Artsakh, before Nikol Pashinyan's "reign".
Nikol Pashinyan distorts all this, calling it “second-hand,” whereas, for example, a few years ago, on August 5, 2019, he declared in the capital of Artsakh: “If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why are, for example, Tumo centers created in Armenia and Artsakh and from here they spread to France, Russia, and Germany? If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why are smart centers created in Armenia? If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why did Charles Aznavour’s family decide to create his central house-museum in Armenia? If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why did Kirk Kerkorian donate $100 million to the development of Armenia? If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why did Vache Manukyan invest millions of dollars in the Republic of Armenia since the first days of independence? If Armenian capital does not have a homeland, why does Eduardo Eurnekian invest millions of dollars in the Republic of Armenia? If capital has no homeland, why is Vardan Srmakesh investing millions of dollars in Armenia and Artsakh and implementing development programs? If Armenian capital has no homeland, why are Samvel Karapetyan and Ruben Vardanyan investing millions of dollars in the Republic of Armenia? If capital has no homeland, why is Suren Yeritsyan, the founder of the Tavush Textile Company, building his new factories in the border villages of his native Tavush region, creating thousands of jobs for residents of border villages on the very edge of the border. This list can be continued.”
I repeat, this was only in 2019.
At the same time, Prime Minister Pashinyan also made another dangerous statement about the Diaspora. According to him, we should not forget that the Diaspora are citizens of foreign countries and they can be used to influence Armenia.
Can they? Of course. And can, for example, Armenian citizens living in Armenia be recruited for foreign influence against Armenia? Of course they can. So, we should declare that Armenians are being used to influence against Armenia. Of course not. That is nonsense.
The same nonsense is made about the Diaspora. But, this is extremely dangerous “nonsense” because it is aimed at creating distrust among Armenians towards Diaspora Armenians, deepening distrust between Armenia and the Diaspora. In other words, by drawing dividing lines in Armenia that arose from his domestic political needs, Nikol Pashinyan is also transferring them to the Diaspora, to the Armenia-Diaspora plane.”
