ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-GREEK COOPERATION IN DIASPORA

06.07.2017

ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-GREEK COOPERATION IN DIASPORA

Vahram Hovyan
Senior Expert, Centre for the Armenian Studies, and Secretary of Research Council, Noravank Foundation

Ethnic lobbying gradually gains a larger role in the modern world. In implementation of foreign policies, national governments often rely on their ethnic communities abroad, particularly in superpower states. Allied nations cooperate not only at government levels, but also the diaspora level.

Results of diaspora collaboration between Azerbaijan and Turkey have been already felt in practice by Armeniancy (Armenia and Diaspora)¹. In counterweight, the Armenian diaspora has its own allies, too. These are mainly Greek, Assyrian, Kurdish and Yezidi diasporas abroad².

However, if Turkish-Azeri lobbyism has rich traditions and wide recognition, the cooperation of Armenian Diaspora with its allies so far has been sporadic (there has been cooperation sometimes for one or another common issue). The importance of cooperation has been recognized in its seriousness among Armenians and its allied peoples only recently.

On March 10, 2017 Edward Nalbandyan and Nikos Kotzias, Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece, respectively, talked about Armenian-Greek cooperation in diaspora during a joint press conference³. Moreover, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that in near future a visit to Yerevan is planned by Greek and Cypriot delegations, to discuss the potential of cooperation between the two peoples⁴. The ministers also outlined the areas and common issues around which cooperation is planned: politics (international condemnation and prevention of genocides), economy (attracting foreign investments to the economies), and culture⁵.

The mentioned statements of Armenian and Greek Foreign Ministers, as well as visits of the Greek and Cypriot delegations are good reasons to value the existing experience of Armenian-Greek cooperation in diaspora and make proposals for further widening and deepening of cooperation.

Considering the existing experience, three models of Armenian-Greek cooperation can be marked out: asymmetric, symmetric and combined, which have their own ways of materialization.

Asymmetric Model

This is a form of cooperation between an organization on one side, and an individual on the other. This model was used, for example, in Canada, where the Hay Tad Committee of the country cooperated with a politician of Greek descent James Karygiannis, former Member of the Canadian Parliament, currently Toronto City Council member. The cooperation took the following forms.

Through efforts of Hay Tad Committee James Karygiannis visited Artsakh as an observer in elections. Since Artsakh is not a recognized state, the international organizations normally do not send election observers, thus refusing to recognize the elections (or their legality). The situation can be counterweighed to certain extent by unofficial observer missions, which although at non-official level, but at least in public perceptions (first of all for international community) provide some legitimacy to these elections and Artsakh government formed as a result of those. Hay Tad Committee organizes such observer missions and their visits to Artsakh. In these activities a significant role is played by the cooperation with diaspora representatives of friendly peoples, who occupy various positions in different countries and can be involved in election observation missions in Artsakh.

James Karygiannis has already participated twice in Artsakh elections, representing the government of Canada⁶. First it was in 2012, during the presidential elections and second time for the February 20, 2017 constitutional amendments referendum⁷.

The cooperation of Canada Hay Tad Committee with the politician of Greek descent for the benefit of Artsakh may take new forms and produce other results, such as: a) creation of a parliamentary group of friendship with Artsakh; b) Stepanakert becoming a sister-city with one of the Canadian cities (most likely Toronto). Within the framework of this process, visit of Toronto City Council members to Armenia is planned to conclude the contract on the establishment of sister relations⁸. Declaring Stepanakert and Toronto sister cities may seriously contribute to development of Stepanakert, as well as promote the international recognition of Artsakh, by becoming one of the components or numerous links in that process.

Another step beneficial for Artsakh issue made by James Karygiannis was his statement about the April four-day war, where he mentioned that “Azerbaijan unleashed the war in Artsakh”⁹. He also had a significant contribution in Canada in recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, for which in 2014 he was awarded Mkhitar Gosh medal in Armenia and a Gold Medal in Artsakh¹⁰.

Another example of asymmetric cooperation was manifested by inclusion of Gus Bilirakis, a congressman of Greek descent, in the 115th Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues as Vice-Chair. After being elected to the US Congress in 2006, Gus Bilirakis has been noted for his activities for the benefit of Armenian issues, particularly, condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, calling for Turkey’s return of confiscated Christian Churches, as well as increasing appropriations for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh¹¹. For this track record of supporting Armenian community advocacy priorities he received the highest, “A+” rating from the ANCA¹².

Armenian-Greek asymmetric cooperation occurs also in the science/education. There is a significant cooperation between Tavitian Foundation and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the Dean of which is James Stavridis, a US Admiral of Greek descent. Under the Foundation’s sponsorship about 300 Armenian civil servants have been trained at the School. In May 2017, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan received a delegation from Tavitian Foundation visiting Armenia, headed by Aso Tavitian, philanthropist, founder and president of the Foundation, and Adm. James Stavridis, Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, in order to discuss the possibilities to widen the cooperation¹³.

Symmetric Model

In this model the cooperation occurs between organizations or between individuals. Some of the forms of such collaboration are as follows:

• Joint participation in mass events related to common interests or concerns. These include such events as commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide organized in Armenian communities of Diaspora every April¹⁴. Apart from Armenian Diaspora, these events are attended also by representatives of the communities, people of which were subjected to genocide in Turkey and continue to be persecuted (violations of human rights, repressions, etc.) in that country. The Greek diaspora is no exception. For example, as Los Angeles based Asbarez wrote about the March for Justice to Los Angeles Turkish Consulate on April 24, 2017, “Joining the March for Justice in solidarity were over 30 organizations of various ethnic backgrounds, including Assyrian, Greek, Ezidi, Kurdish, Jewish, Irish, Palestinian, as well as numerous human rights groups, student associations, and other advocacy organizations.”¹⁵ Participation of various ethnic communities in mass events has an important role in internationalization of one or another issue (in this case, international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide) and for its perception as an issue (as well as part of its history) for a given country (in this case, the USA).

• Support to pro-Armenian and pro-Greek candidates during the elections. Perhaps, one result of such cooperation was the April 2016 US Senate primaries victory of Chris Van Hollen, an ardent defender of Armenian and Greek causes, over Donna Edwards, a supporter of Turkish interests¹⁶, despite the sizable amounts of money spent for the latter’s campaign¹⁷.

• Support to each other’s legislative initiatives. One example of such cooperation was the passage by the California State Assembly of the Turkey Divestment Bill¹⁸, initiated in June 2017 by the Armenian community and supported by Greek and Assyrian organizations.

The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Armenian and Greek communities of the USA was an important step towards institutionalization of cooperation by the symmetric model.

Combined Model

In this model of cooperation the previously described two models are combined. It mostly occurs in the information/publicity area.

One of the remarkable forms of the combined model is related to the book The Spice Box Letters by Ms. Eve Makis, a British writer of Greek (Cypriot) descent. The book is about the Armenian Genocide and the life of its survivors. Also, the Armenian culture, everyday life and cuisine are described. Thus, on the one hand the book is significant in raising awareness of foreigners about the Armenian Genocide (the book has already been translated into four languages), and on the other hand, it provides information about Armenian culture, everyday life and cuisine. So, on the one hand it attempts to once again remind about sufferings the Armenian people went through due to the genocide, on the other hand, the book contributes to the Armenian “soft power” policies, by increasing attractiveness of Armenia abroad through information on Armenian culture, everyday life and cuisine.

Representatives of Armenian diaspora assisted the Greek author both in writing the book and its publicity and sales after it was published. Vartan Tashdjian, a renowned artist and head of the Armenian “Narek” Schools Committee of Cyprus, provided assistance to Eve Makis in the writing phase of the book “in the framework of her vigorous study and research of Armenians and Armenian issues…¹⁹”, and he “… helped the author gladly by providing information on Armenians and the Armenian Genocide both during a meeting and by telephone and correspondence…²⁰”

After the book was published, its advertising and promotion among wide circles of public was substantially advanced by book’s presentations in London and Nicosia in 2017, which were organized through efforts of the Armenian and Greek communities of Great Britain and Cyprus²¹. The presentations were aimed at spreading the word about the book among Armenians and Greeks. In the UK, the initiative to organize the event came from Alkionides UK under the auspices of the Cyprus High Commission. Whereas in Cyprus the event was organized by Tatiana Der Avedissian, her mother Gayane Der Avedissian and AGBU Nicosia. As for the sales of the book, Ms. Ruth Keshishian of the Moufflon Bookshop in Cyprus helped to sell many of its copies.

The activities of biweekly Luys published in Constantinople represent an important form of collaboration in information area, as its materials “…cover social life of Armenian, Greek, Jewish communities of Turkey…”²². We classify the activities of this periodical as combined cooperation model, considering that these can be possible only through support of people and organizations representing Turkey’s Greek (as well as Jewish) community. The biweekly is an open forum for religious minorities of Turkey, and apart from news reports it “… enriches the newspaper with interviews, community success stories in various fields, news from all over the world…”²³. In addition to printed version, Luys internet TV is also available online.

Conclusions and Recommendations

In summary, the following observations can be made:

1. Armenian-Greek cooperation in diaspora occurs both in bilateral and multilateral formats, where in addition to Armenian and Greek communities also Assyrian, Kurdish and Yezidi communities are involved.

2. Armenian-Greek cooperation is manifested mostly in political and to some extent in information/publicity areas. In economic and scientific areas cooperation either does not exist, or is insignificant.

3. Cooperation in elections can be added to the numerous forms of collaboration in the political arena. In these cases the lobbyist organizations of the two sides may jointly support a representative of the Armenian or Greek community in elections (local, state or federal level), under an agreement that if elected, such representative will promote interests of both peoples in government bodies.

4. In the information area, institutionalization of the cooperation could be potentially supported by establishment of Armenian-Greek mass media (newspaper, TV, radio or website) that would cover the issues of the two peoples. In addition to setting an example of unity, it would also increase awareness in the world about Armenian and Greek issues, as well as bring even closer the two peoples in spiritual and cultural terms.

5. In the science area, joint research could be boosted by Armenian and Greek individual scholars based on common research interests, along with cooperation in various formats between Armenian and Greek scientific institutions (centers), such as organization of joint conferences, funding of joint scientific, educational and research programs, etc.

6. Institutionalization of cooperation in science area is also important, which requires establishment of Armenian-Greek scientific/educational institutions. A first step in this direction could be creation of joint think-tanks, which may develop later into universities or other scientific institutions. This can be substantially promoted by establishing branches of Armenian think-tanks (for example, Noravank Foundation) in Diaspora communities, because they are able to initiate Armenian-Greek cooperation at the institutional level, including creation of joint scientific/educational institutions.

7. In economic area it is currently hard to come up with recommendations, because: a) we are not aware of any examples of such cooperation in the past; b) economy is a sphere best mastered by those who work there, i.e. the business people. Still, the Hellenic-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry²⁴ created in 1992 in Athens sets an example by which initial steps could be taken to establish Armenian-Greek business councils or trade networks in foreign countries, aiming at information exchange and consultancy.

¹ In certain cases the Jewish lobby also is considered an ally of Azerbaijani and Turkish lobbies.

² With active work the Armenian Diaspora’s alliances can be expanded to include also Arab, Russian and Iranian communities.

³ See the video recording of the joint press conference of Edward Nalbandyan and Nikos Kotzias, Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece: http://www.mfa.am/hy/press-conference/item/2017/03/10/min_gr_pc/

⁴ Visits of the Greek and Cypriot delegations to Yerevan and ensuing negotiations with relevant bodies of Armenia took place in June 2017. See: Memorandum of mutual understanding signed at RA Ministry of Diaspora, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/250756; Matters related to Armenia-Cyprus relations were discussed: http://newspress.am/archives/62455; Armenian parliamentary speaker receives Cyprus’s Presidential Commissioner, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/250817; Perspectives for cooperation considered with Greek counterparts, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/251471

⁵ Minister N. Kotzias also mentioned history as an area for cooperation. We believe he meant international condemnation of genocides, to which rethinking of Byzantine legacy can also be added.

⁶ Toronto City Council member James Karygiannis visits the Ministry of Diaspora, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/234333

⁷ James Karygiannis: “I am on Azerbaijan’s “black list” and I am not thinking about that”, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/234817

⁸ Ibid.

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ Toronto City Council member James Karygiannis visits the Ministry of Diaspora, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/234333

¹¹ See: ANCA Welcomes Rep. David Trott as New Republican Co-Chair; Rep. Gus Bilirakis as Vice-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, http://hayernaysor.am/en/archives/227283

¹² See: https://anca.org/congress/gus-bilirakis-216-114/

¹³ See: PM: “We are eager to see Tavitian foundation expand its activities in Armenia”, http://www.gov.am/en/news/item/8895/

¹⁴ Although officially the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day is April 24, in Diaspora the commemoration activities are not limited to that day only, They encompass a much wider period.

¹⁵ Tens of Thousands March for Justice to Los Angeles Turkish Consulate, http://asbarez.com/162523/tens-of-thousands-march-for-justice-to-los-angeles-turkish-consulate/

¹⁶ Turkish Caucus Member Donna Edwards Defeated in Senate Primary, http://www.aaainc.org/index.php?id=7&no_cache=1&newsID=634&utm_source=Copy+of+AAA%3A+2016+Elec-tion&utm_campaign=AAA%3A+British+Foreign+Secretary&utm_medium=email

¹⁷See: Soylu R., Turkish Lobby in US Hits Record High in Campaign Donations, https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/ragip-soylu/2015/12/24/turkish-lobby-in-us-hits-record-high-in-campaign-donations

¹⁸ See: Գալիֆորնիոյ նահանգային խորհրդարանը վաւերացուց Թուրքիոյ մէջ նահանգին ներդրումները ետ քաշելու նախագիծը, Նոր Մարմարա, 07.06.2017։

¹⁹ Գույումճեան Ե., Հանրայայտ Գրող Իվ Մաքիս Նիկոսիոյ ՀԲԸՄ-Ի Ակումբին Մէջ, http://hayernaysor.am/cl/archives/247283

²⁰ Ibid.

²¹ Ibid.

²² «Լոյս» պարբերականի տարեկան ճաշկերոյթն ու «Ամենա...»ներու մրցանակաբաշխութիունը, Նոր Մարմարա, 29.05.2017

²³ Ibid.

²⁴See: Հայ-հունական առևտրատնտեսական կապերը կակտիվանան, https://b24.am/mobile/economy/40896.html

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