Before the “Corona” virus appeared, spread rapidly and turned into a nightmare across the entire world, “Ramgavar Mamoul” had planned to publish a series of interviews.
In today’s issue we present the interview conducted with Asadur Devletyan, Vice-Chair of the Central Board of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and Chair of the Press Bureau, in which, alongside numerous questions, our colleague has addressed, by and large, the fundamental issues concerning the entire Armenian nation.
Armenia’s current situation, expectations from the new authorities, the question of the ADL’s old and new commitments, as well as the contemporary problems and fundamental issues present in the diaspora.
Armed with a spirit of optimism and opening windows toward tomorrow, this interview contains important emphases and once again confirms the overall understandings of the ADL, which has traversed a great path of a hundred years and formed a vast phalanx of devotees. Among these, the important radiations of today’s Armenia hold an unshakeable and fundamental place, as do our party’s commitments toward historical Armenia and the great vision of building a brilliant future for the Armenian people.
“Ramgavar Mamoul”
-Lately, much has been said about how, in general, and especially in the diaspora, the traditional Armenian parties have lost their appeal. To what extent is this approach correct? What is your viewpoint in this regard?
If the reference is to the fact that among the new generation of the diaspora the number of young men and women who join the traditional parties or follow their activities with sympathy has decreased, it is impossible to deny that this phenomenon is a reality.
However, it must immediately be noted that what has diminished is not the “charm” of the parties, but rather the tragic decline in both the capacity and level, as well as the quality, of the Armenian upbringing of the youth. During the last few decades, unfortunately, almost all Armenian communities near Armenia successively collapsed or underwent attrition. In those communities, previously, not only was authentic Armenian upbringing abundantly imparted, but also healthy national pride — the two undeniable guarantees, perhaps also the preconditions, for clinging with conscious devotion to ideologies vowed to complete national service. The quantitative and qualitative wasting away of those communities, vibrant with Armenianness, could not but negatively affect the voluntary readiness to undertake a life of total commitment to national service.
Additionally, the pace and tension of daily life imposed by present times also seriously hinder the rooting of national preoccupations in our new generation.
In this regard, however, it must not be forgotten that the majority of the authors of the notable, pride-inspiring national manifestations that have emerged recently in North America, many European countries, and even Australia, were tempered with Armenianness in the previously highly productive “forges” of the aforementioned communities.
-So, do you think that the traditional parties still have an important role to play in the diaspora?
Undoubtedly. Especially if we consider that, in the service of our supreme national interests, the “lion’s share” of the heroic work carried out in connection with the two most sacred missions is accomplished thanks to the efforts of the three traditional parties. The reference, of course, concerns the colossal task of preserving Armenian identity and the keeping alive of the consciousness of the nation’s sacred claims, and especially their consistent pursuit.
For understandable reasons, the motherland, having other extremely important priorities, can, at most, provide limited assistance with regard to these two essential missions.
It becomes clear, therefore, how vital is the role of our traditional parties throughout the entire diaspora.
-And what distinguishes the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party from the other parties?
First, I must make a number of observations.
The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party is pre-eminently a national organization, whose main purpose of existence is the pursuit of the supreme interests of the Armenian people, through the combined efforts of all strata of the people, without any class discrimination.
The party’s worldview is founded on the principles of the supremacy of the popular will, the full implementation of all individual and collective rights, and continuous social betterment. However, the party’s main preoccupation is the complete restoration of the Armenian historical homeland, the overall development and prosperity of Armenia, the preservation of the national identity of the Armenians of the diaspora, and ultimately, the national reunification of the Armenian people on our ancestral and traditional lands. The ADL professes that, without any exception, the axis of all our national aspirations must be Armenia and the Armenian people, towards whom our loyalty and devotion must never be conditioned by various considerations. It is with that unwavering conviction that it has remained permanently attached to the slogan “Always with the homeland and the people; always for the homeland and the people.”
Opening a parenthesis, it is necessary to explain the essence of the aforementioned slogan. The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party unquestionably believes that our love, devotion and loyalty towards the homeland and the Armenian people can never be defined or limited by the administrative regime prevailing in the homeland, or by the colours of the flag flying on the native soil, whatever our reservations may be regarding them.
It is the deep conviction of the ADL that the homeland and the Armenian people are eternal. Everything else is circumstantial and temporary.
-What are the immediate programmes of your party, which is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary?
It is beyond any doubt that the centenary of the party’s founding is a historically significant milestone that will, of course, be celebrated with due splendour. However, the charm (possibly) attributed to it is subjective. In essence, the hundredth year differs in nothing from the preceding or the following one. Therefore, the jubilee date has only a superficial character.
I have already touched upon all the issues concerning the party, a little earlier. One of the ADL’s obvious characteristics is the flexibility of its structure in arranging its priorities according to the dictates of the ever-changing difficulties and imperatives facing our people, and especially its segment abroad. It is precisely with that zeal that the party was brought to life in 1921.
I deem it necessary to provide some clarification in this direction.
In the last two decades of the 19th century, the extremely pressing need to defend the rights and interests of our people, who were under the domination of Ottoman Turkey and were extremely wronged (by force of necessity, also through armed rebellion), gave birth to the traditional Armenian parties, and first and foremost, in 1885, to the Armenakan Party, which considered our national security as paramount above any other concern.
However, after the horrific tragedy of the Armenian Genocide, when the fragments of Western Armenians who had escaped the catastrophe were scattered through mass deportation to various countries, ultimately to become the Armenian diaspora, and the eastern segment of our people, which, after centuries of captivity, had repossessed its statehood over a small part of our historical homeland, was already under Soviet rule, our national history entered an entirely new phase.
Behold, these completely transformed conditions made the emergence of a new political organization urgently and importantly necessary, along with new ways of thinking and new methods of work. It was in these distinctive conditions that the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party was formed, through the merger of five parties – Armenakan, Reformed Hunchakian, Armenian Constitutional Ramgavar, Liberal and Popular – as well as several other organizations and unions.
However, the implementation of the task undertaken by the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party was not easy. The greater part of our people had been annihilated and nine-tenths of the native land had been usurped. Under the prevailing complex conditions, effective work required a flexible and far-sighted policy and a deep awareness of fundamental national interests. Serving usefully both segments of the Armenian people, living under mutually opposed administrative systems, was an extraordinarily important, but at the same time extremely intricate, commitment. It must never be forgotten that, for decades, preaching and advocating patriotism was entirely tantamount to being labelled a communist and bearing all the unfortunate consequences of that label.
The ADL considers all the positive results it has achieved to date in the preservation of national identity, the keeping alive of national consciousness and patriotism, as well as in the pursuit of claims, as its greatest reward.
It can be confidently affirmed that, fully understanding that conscious patriotism presupposes boundless and unnegotiable devotion, serious circumspection and a readiness for patient and consistent work, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, as always, stands resolutely at the ramparts today as well, with a renewed vow of complete service in the cause of the supreme interests of our people.
-How do you assess the current state of Homeland-Diaspora relations?
First of all, it is necessary to make a number of definitions.
For the Republic of Armenia, the Armenians of the diaspora are an incomparable and, at the same time, irreplaceable wealth. In their majority, they perceive the motherland, Artsakh, the compatriot people living in the homeland, and absolutely everything connected with their present and future, with unreserved love, boundless compassion and affection.
This assertion, which at first glance seems highly presumptuous, nevertheless never ceases to be an undeniable reality. The multifaceted, unwavering and persistently stable support that the Armenian diaspora has provided and will provide is the most authentic guarantee for our beloved homeland. Therefore, it is vitally necessary that this invaluable capital be scrupulously and carefully preserved, so that the maximum possible benefit may be continuously derived from it. The Armenians abroad expect nothing in return for their devotion and sacrifice, except the enduring inspiration of faith and trust. It becomes self-evidently clear, therefore, that no effort should be spared so that faith and trust never diminish or falter, because otherwise, all the sad consequences could be extremely undesirable.
On the other hand, during the last few decades, but especially after Armenia’s independence, the essence of the Armenian diaspora has fundamentally changed. Whereas previously there existed a few clear geographical subdivisions and, in general, the problems concerning the Armenians of each segment were common, as were the solutions required for them, nowadays needs, conditions and possibilities differ not only from country to country, but often even from city to city. No serious national programme can be guided solely by emotional, subjective or circumstantial impulses, nor be conditioned by them. Present times and their stringent demands compel us to try to implement the most suitable, the most effective, the most forward-looking initiatives, especially when our means remain limited in comparison with our sea of nationwide needs.
I must immediately add that I am fully convinced that the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Zareh Sinanyan, is not only well acquainted with all the aforementioned conditions and the prevailing situation, but his methods of work, approaches and programmes inspire the faith that they stem from a complete understanding and a most serious attitude. Therefore, with an easy heart, it can be affirmed that I am optimistic in this direction.
-How do you assess the working style of Armenia’s authorities and the achievements realized so far?
The working style of the homeland’s authorities, in general, reflects the application of stable democratic principles; therefore, it is entirely encouraging and acceptable.
It cannot be expected that everything be accomplished with perfect, flawless precision. Numerous factors, whether we like it or not, will inevitably have their impact on the accomplishments, at their various stages. What matters is that, overall, they have a satisfactory level. It can be confidently affirmed that, in Armenia, at present, such is the case.
As for the achievements realized so far, it is impossible not to note that there is a visible, consistent progress, albeit sometimes, for understandable reasons, at a slow pace. It would be absolute naivety to think or assume that, at the speed we desire, everything that needs reform or correction can be fixed. In our homeland, there exist numerous provisions, situations and conditions that have deep-rooted distortions, and therefore their improvement requires scrupulous study and time.
In any case, we Armenians abroad follow all the positive accomplishments with beating hearts.
