By KRIKOR KHODANIAN
Recently declassified documents from the United States Department of State confirm that in the late 1990s, Robert Kocharyan and Heydar Aliyev, during direct negotiations, agreed to resolve the Karabakh conflict through a territorial exchange—trading Meghri for Karabakh.
For decades, this alleged agreement has been a contentious issue in Armenia’s domestic politics, lingering without definitive confirmation. The key figures of that time, Robert Kocharyan and his then Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, have consistently denied the existence of such a plan. Implementing it would have meant formally recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan while ceding Meghri, severing Armenia’s land connection with Iran and deepening its regional isolation.
These revelations might have gone unnoticed if Kocharyan and his allies had not repeatedly exploited the Artsakh issue for political gain. Even now, they attempt to leverage it in their bid to return to power.
Vartan Oskanian, a central figure in this controversial plan, has not addressed the newly released documents. Instead, he has taken it upon himself to urge Armenian-Americans to boycott Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Washington. Justifying his call, Oskanian claims:
“With Pashinyan’s failed leadership, the Armenian people are entering the most disastrous period in their modern history… Armenia suffered a military defeat and territorial losses… Pashinyan’s approval rating has dropped to 10 percent… democracy is in decline… Pashinyan is obstructing the return of Artsakh residents to their homes and the release of prisoners.” According to Oskanian, Armenian-American organizations should reject Pashinyan’s visit due to these alleged failures.
Let’s examine these claims. Even if we accept the 10 percent approval rating as accurate, Pashinyan remains significantly more popular than his main opponents, Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, whose ratings barely reach 1 percent.
As for the loss of Artsakh, the newly declassified documents reinforce that its fate was compromised years ago. While Pashinyan has acknowledged his share of responsibility for the military defeat, the primary blame still lies with Kocharyan and Sargsyan, who neglected military modernization while Azerbaijan aggressively built up its forces. Their failure to allocate resources for Armenia’s defense stemmed from systemic corruption and the looting of state funds.
Regarding democracy, Oskanian is perhaps the least credible voice on the subject. He served for a decade under a regime marked by 39 political assassinations, the suppression of independent media, the imprisonment of political dissidents, and Armenia’s classification as a “not free” country by international human rights organizations.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of Armenian-American organizations ignored Oskanian’s call for a boycott. Representatives from political, charitable, religious, and civic groups attended Pashinyan’s meetings, affirming their commitment to Armenia’s statehood. To be fair, a small protest of five individuals took place outside the Armenian Embassy.
Given these latest revelations, it is time for Vartan Oskanian and Robert Kocharyan to exit the political stage. But before they do, they owe the Armenian people the truth: the Meghri-Karabakh swap was an option they were willing to consider.
“MASSIS”
