Question
Mr. Sefilian, I just heard you today state that you expect that both Turkey and Russia will weaken, and that that opens the opportunity for the republic of Armenia to get on its feet, would you care to elaborate
Answer
Russia և Turkey are the imperial remnants of the past.
Turkey is important for Russia as an ally against the West. Recently, Turkey’s capacity for Russia has increased a lot for two reasons.
First, there is a prospect for Russia to be part of the “One Belt, One Road” Chinese strategic plan from east to west and to work closely with Turkey within its framework.
Then Russia saw that it has weakened, it cannot resist the West alone, especially in our region, so it seeks to ally with Turkey, instead of yielding its influence to the West, it even shares it with Turkey, because it hopes that in the future, if it becomes stronger, it can push Turkey out, while it cannot do the same in the case of the West.
For its part, Turkey’s existence makes sense for the West as long as Turkey is fit to restrain and counterbalance Russia.
By the way, Turkey has so far skillfully used this opportunity to play between the West and Russia.
Especially in the last century, the main external source of all the disasters that have befallen upon us is in this geopolitical hub.
The 44-day conditioned war, the occupation and partition of Artsakh, the transformation of Syunik into a corridor, at least making Armenia an administrative territory devoid of de facto sovereignty, is another process arising from this junction.
But now Russia is too weak; it can no longer exist as a global power, it can be maintained as an empire with its own territory and system of government.
His aggression against Ukraine was the last desperate step, which will end in complete defeat, partition, demilitarization and destabilization of Russia.
At the same time, Turkey is becoming an absolutely useless and dangerous burden for the West, and getting rid of it, after neutralizing Russia, will be one of the important problems of the West.
In fact, the West is preparing for this, at least after the first Iraq war, and recently it is not only clarifying its strategy, but also taking practical steps in that direction.
In contrast to China’s east-west plan, the United States, led by the West, has initiated an alternative to the India-Iran-Europe North-South program, which will have to pass through Armenia and Georgia to neutralize Russia.
This is the strategic perspective of our country, which will give an opportunity to ensure sovereignty, security, rapid economic development based on multibillion-dollar investments and technological inflows.
In addition, this perspective, intersecting with the US plan to neutralize Turkey, will significantly increase the role of Armenia and the Armenian factor, creating a real opportunity for the future to reconsider the need to restore the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with Woodrow Wilson’s arbitrary award.
It is no secret that the United States does not have a more effective and legitimate leverage against Turkey.
Question
When Armenia regained its independence three decades ago, we saw the historical Armenian parties from the diaspora return to the Fatherland, but we rarely have heard of the local Armenian parties from inside the republic also trying to establish a presence inside the diaspora, but today we see that the National Democratic Alliance also gains support inside the Armenian diaspora, how do you explain this phenomenon
Answer
Armenia is independent only in legal terms, that is, de jure. And in fact, de facto, Armenia is a semi-colony of Russia, occupied at the strategic level.
Therefore, in the classical sense, parties cannot be created and operate in Armenia. To date, most of the parties in Armenia are under Russian influence, and the rest are failed factions.
In such a situation, classical political activity through parties is excluded. There can be only a national-liberation struggle, which is what the National-Democratic Alliance (NDA) is engaged in.
The National Democratic Alliance is not a party, but an above-partisan union of individual figures and citizens.
NDA has created a party of the same name for tactical purposes in order to have official relations in the legal field, but does not act as a political force through it, but uses it only as a tool.
And, as it was mentioned above, since the so-called parties operating in Armenia have accepted the dictates of the Russian colonial system, its conditions and rules, according to them they refrain from the steps of uniting the Armenians in the Diaspora, making them aware and participating in the Homeland affairs.
Meanwhile, there is a main goal for us to liberate Armenia that is why we do everything to involve the Diaspora. Armenia is the Homeland of all Armenians; all Armenians have the right, if you have the will, to participate in the affairs of Armenia, including to vote, to be elected as a citizen and a political representative.
At the same time, we do not pursue local, community agendas in the Diaspora. In that sense, we do not have a contradiction with the traditional structures operating in the Diaspora.
Question
It is also remarkable that the National Democratic Alliance attracts supporters from different ideological directions and background, it seems to enjoy diversity, both left wing socialists, and right wing nationalists are active inside the NDA, not only on ideological level, Armenians from the western countries and the middle east also seem to be interested in the NDA, what is the secret for this charm in your opinion
Answer
As I have already mentioned, we are waging a national liberation struggle, we are not a classical party, but we present a program for the liberation of Armenia and we are fighting for its implementation.
Just as Armenians and Armenians belonging to different parties and views fought side by side in Sardarapat, so in our case all those who pursue the goal of liberating Armenia unite.
The time will come when Armenia will be liberated and independent parties will probably be born from us.
For now, it is Sardarapat; should we act according to the logic and rules of Sardarapat
Question
Armenian young generation does not seem much interested and motivated to be involved in politics, do you have anything to say and address the younger generation in Armenia
Answer
Not only in Armenia, but all over the world, there is a problem of political maturity and activity of the youth.
There are scientific explanations for the reasons for that, but I do not want to burden the reader, I will speak only about the special reason for the passivity of our youth.
There is one reason for that: Armenia is occupied and Occupying Russia together with its local puppets has been waging a hybrid propaganda war against our people for three decades, especially against its young generation. They have falsified and defiled history, destroyed education and science, sown a special dislike for politics, blocked almost all opportunities and attempts to convey the truth to young people.
I will urge our young people to realize this reality, to stand up with the master’s will and take the flag of the national liberation struggle.
Question
Do you wish to address the diaspora Armenians, THE NDA seems to have varying levels of sympathy, sometimes displease, sometimes positive, do you have a certain message to the Armenian youth in the diaspora, who is active and involved in the national cause
Answer
The National Democratic Axis is not the property of anyone, but a political force leading the national-liberation movement.
So the more patriotic and good people are part of it, the better and more powerful it will be.
I will call on our compatriots to take into account that Armenia is at the crossroads of being or not being. If we rule Armenia, we will have a bright future, we will realize all our dreams and those of our ancestors, while if we remain inactive, we will lose what we already have and remain stateless.
It is time, finally, to put aside all disagreements, to make a political contribution to Armenia in terms of participation and material and first of all to create a national chapter, a national government. Without it, all economic, charitable and other investments are meaningless. We saw how the efforts and billions invested in Artsakh remained the enemy.
It is time to be part of the liberation struggle, to stand up for the Homeland and our destiny.
Interview conducted by Bedros Manoukian