It Was Not Worth Bargaining with the Turkish Bashibozouk for One Millimeter of Land: Seyran Ohanyan's Address

Former Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Seyran Ohanyan's message: “Today is a holiday... On May 28, the global Armenian people celebrate the anniversaries of the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan, and Gharakilisa, as well as the proclamation of the First Republic of Eastern Armenia. Opening that truly heroic page of history, which is now 103 years old, we unfortunately find ourselves once again facing a similar challenge—the threat of existence or non-existence, the threat of having or not having our state on the world map.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the war imposed on us by Azerbaijan, we fought heroically, establishing two independent states—Armenia and Artsakh—with a combat-ready army, a strategically powerful ally, and stable diplomatic relations with the world. Following the recognition of the genocide of the Armenian people at the beginning of the last century and the process of criminalizing its denial, thanks to resolutions adopted by civilized countries, the Armenian people presented themselves to the world as a victorious nation, having regained their pride after the genocide.

For about 30 years, at the cost of tremendous losses and suffering, we have defended our borders, driven by the adoration of the homeland and the blood's call. I have had the honor to create and lead a dignified, victorious army with our state’s presidents and the people, where every soldier has accurately fulfilled his duties during the set period, where dignity and the sacred land of the homeland are the highest values, where commanders and soldiers have sacrificed their lives side by side, protecting our borders delineated by our people's blood, day and night.

Today, a disgraceful crowd, which regards the standards of the state border set by the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem’s GPS as legitimate, is trying to present itself as “a heavenly deliverance.” “Oh Armenian people, your only salvation lies in your collective strength.” The foundation of Armenian statehood has been, is, and will be the Armenian army.

I cannot look coldly at what is happening today to our army, where there are selfless officers, soldiers, and patriots serving the Homeland, whose blood has colored the borders of Artsakh and Armenia; today they are being transformed into an incapable, powerless, colorful uniformed group with formal and undefined functions. It pains me to note that commanders who had the right to make independent decisions on the frontlines and to carry out combat tasks have been reduced to hearing the propaganda of “the club role in the army.”

My commander and soldier have pulled the lifeless bodies of their battle buddies from the battlefield, risking their lives to prevent even in that state the enemy from defiling them. Our supreme generals, officers, soldiers have maintained the integrity of Artsakh and Armenia for 30 years, and it has been tragically proven today that by gifting Artsakh to the Turk, they are not rescuing but completely destroying Armenia and the Armenian people. Those who disdainfully criticized the “No inch” proponents must now recognize that it was not worth bargaining with the Turkish bashibozouk for even one millimeter of land because after that, they found themselves in Syunik, Gegharkunik, and tomorrow, do not doubt, they may also be in Yerevan.

Those who signed the capitulation of Artsakh, now raising the issue of Azerbaijani enclaves in sovereign Armenia and even making it a diplomatic thesis—this wandering group propagating Turkish ideas—has 24 days left.

Emphasizing Robert Kocharyan’s combat path and state-building activities in Artsakh and Armenia, I call on all state-oriented figures of newly independent Armenia, our combat comrades, intellectuals, and the entire Armenian people to trust and unite around the “Armenia” alliance he leads. The upcoming parliamentary elections will be a struggle against the powers that capitulated Artsakh under the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem and prepared for the further decline of our statehood. Let us throw the Turkish column out of the borders of Armenia. Glory and honor to the martyrs and all devoted ones who fought for the statehood and independence of the Armenian people. Long live independent and powerful Armenia!”