Today, April 24, marks the 95
th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It’s a personal issue for me, as my grandmother was one of millions who lost her home and most of her family at the hands of a disintegrating Ottoman Empire that was desperate to find a scapegoat for the regime’s problems.
The protests continue on, as Armenians around the world demand that Turkey make some gesture indicating its people’s culpability in the murder of 1.5 million. And many Turks, torn between wanting integration in the European Union and edging closer to its Muslim neighbors, are furious at the mention that their ancestors took part in what many call the first holocaust. Who can blame them—most Turks don’t know what happened way back when because they were just never told. Having visited Istanbul last year, I saw how museums and historical sights don’t even mention Armenia on maps—even Greeks, who also have a long history with Turkey, are begrudgingly mentioned as “Byzantines.” Meanwhile, the US finds itself stuck in the middle, not wanting to offend Turkey and therefore threatening military and business ties.
But while the arguments bounce back and forth, Armenia itself is faltering. 20 to 25% of its population is in heinous poverty, jobs are scarce, and its energy needs are met by a nuclear plant and tenuous supplies from its neighbors. Meanwhile its government is pretty much run by a bunch of pilfering gangsters.
It’s a shame that a people with a legacy of entrepreneurship and who value education can’t seem to get the message outside of its borders. Some of that is due to the brain drain as talent leaves the country; part of the issue is that Armenia is isolated, a long flight from any European hub. But at this year’s Expo in Shanghai, China, the
Armenian pavilion will only show an “apricot garden,” and a historical exhibit describing historic ties between China and Armenia.
Is this the best Armenia could do? If there’s a country that should be a test model for sustainability, it’s Armenia. Landlocked with few resources, its engineering talent could provide a hotbed of new technologies from solar to biomass energy, new farming methods, and yes, even the clichéd eco-tourism. The food is fresh, the landscape stunning, and the architecture can be impressive: unfortunately, the country now relies on remittances and handouts, leaving the country stagnant and stale.
