Ongoing denial and repetition of a genocide event

Revised Article:

The struggle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide remains a cornerstone of Armenian diasporas worldwide, decades after the tragic event. Seeking justice and preventing a repetition of history has been a significant step for the community. Unfortunately, the Turkish government's denialist policies and the absence of a Sovereign Armenia until 1991 placed the diaspora at the forefront of this long-standing battle, transforming it into a bastion of cultural and political resistance.

In Argentina, this struggle found an echo. Former president Raul Alfonsín was the first to respond, and later in 2006, Law 26.199 was approved with the support of the entire political spectrum and promulgated by then President Nestor Kirchner. At that time, Turkey's state denialism was a continuation of the genocidal process, and we didn't know then that new crimes were on the horizon.

The start of the self-defense movement of Nagorno Karabagh, initially fighting for reunification with SSRA of Armenia, the independence referendums, the onset of the war, and the creation of the two new republics (Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh) presented both states, and naturally the diaspora, with new challenges. The defense of Artsakh was more than just a matter of right—it was an existential issue.

The victory in 1994, the consolidation of the state institutions of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, and the initiation of negotiations within the Minsk Group, an international organization with a UN mandate and an agreement between the parties to mediate, seemed to offer a framework for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.

However, Azerbaijan continued to prepare for the resumption of conflict, as seen in the failed attempt in April 2016. It wasn't until September 2020 that the reality flipped dramatically when, supported by Turkey, the new offensive on the Republic of Artsakh resulted in the occupation and handover of two-thirds of its territory, more than 5000 deaths, 90,000 refugees, and a precarious ceasefire mediated by Russia, which included the deployment of peacekeeping forces in the remaining territory.

The same actors, more than a century later and reviving pan-Turkish aspirations, attacked Armenia and Artsakh again with an agenda of extermination and occupation. The three years that followed were marked by strong bellicose rhetoric, attacks on civilians, invasions of the sovereign and internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Armenia, and a criminal blockade for more than 9 months. Finally, the attack of September 19, 2023 expelled all Armenians from Artsakh, just like what happened in Western Armenia or Nakhichevan a hundred years before.

After the signing of the ceasefire on November 9, 2020, and after subjecting Artsakh to ethnic cleansing, the Azerbaijani government began to incorporate new demands. The silence of the international community and the lack of capacity and/or will of those who should guarantee the peace process allowed them to advance their maximalist agenda practically without resistance.

As of now, the government of Ilham Aliyev, along with its partner Erdogan, demands the handover of an extraterritorial corridor connecting Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan (and thus Turkey), claims over 200 km² of Armenia, ignores existing borders, claims the entirety of the Republic of Armenia as Western Azerbaijan, refuses to open communications, illegally detains and tortures dozens of prisoners of war and hostages. They demand a reform of the Armenian Constitution, the withdrawal of claims from international courts, and the dissolution of the Minsk Group as a mediator in the conflict.

For those who understand that the Nagorno Karabakh issue was the only obstacle to peace and normalization of relations, it has become clear that the conflict has a deeper agenda that requires the destruction of the sovereignty, independence, and physical existence of any Armenian state, whether it's called the Republic of Artsakh or the Republic of Armenia.

It's important to note that both Aliyev and Azeri diplomacy emphasize a particular statement: "The Nagorno Karabakh conflict has been resolved, once and for all." However, the conflict is far from over, not only due to the continuous threats of war that Armenia and the diaspora face, but also because of the more than 100,000 Armenians forced to leave their homes in Artsakh, who await their chance to return to their homeland, or what's left of it.

You might be interested in:

The Realm of Memory: Striving for Recognition and Justice (Delving deeper into Argentina's recognition of the Armenian Genocide and its impact on domestic and international policy)
Artsakh, embodiment of resistance: A nation reborn (Exploring the resilience of the Armenian people and the struggle for independence in the face of adversity)
Challenges and Opportunities in the Post-Conflict Era: Artsakh, Afghanistan, and other case studies (Analyzing the complexities of finding peaceful solutions in post-conflict zones through a comparative lens)

Associated Topics

Armenian Genocide
Human Rights
International Law
Nagorno Karabakh
Minsk Group
Argentina's Foreign Policy

What about the legitimization of the Armenian Genocide recognition in other countries, for instance in Argentina's politics, where Law 26.199 was approved in 2006 under president Nestor Kirchner, setting a precedent for other states?
The Armenian struggle for recognition and justice was echoed in the juntas of Argentina, but the modern conflict in Nagorno Karabakh and Artsakh, marked by war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, presents new challenges and questions regarding human rights and international law.
In the future, as we approach 2023, it is crucial to remember the historical parallels between the expulsion of Armenians from Artsakh and Western Armenia or Nakhichevan a hundred years ago, and to stand in solidarity with those affected by these conflicts.
General news and updates on the Artsakh, embodiment of resistance, and the ongoing negotiations within the Minsk Group are essential to understanding the complexities of the conflict, its impact on the diaspora, and the efforts for a peaceful resolution.
The crimes and injustices faced by the Armenian community during the Armenian Genocide, as well as the recent conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh and Artsakh, proves the need for continued exploration of human rights, international law, and crime-and-justice issues in the context of war-and-conflicts and politics.