After Stern Criticism from Russia, Armenia Amends History Textbook
A day after a stern statement from Moscow criticizing a passage in a new edition of an Armenian history textbook for eighth graders, Armenia’s Education Ministry announced that the text has been edited and the textbook amended.
Moscow harshly criticized a passage in the textbook that characterizes the events in the early 19th century as Russia having “annexed” Armenia, explaining how modern-day Armenia became part of the Russian Empire, following the Russo-Persian war.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it expects the relevant authors in Armenia to remove the offensive “annexation” term.
“We anticipate that the Armenian authorities will not allow the transfer of such a textbook to schools and will not turn a blind eye to such unceremonious attempts to distort our common history,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
The head of the Education Ministry’s Department of Public Education, Tamar Sargsyan, told reporters on Friday that the textbook has been “corrected” and will be distributed to schools. She explained that a section will no longer use the phrase of “annexation of Eastern Armenia to Russia.”
“We received calls expressing worries and concerns, after which work was carried out with the [textbook’s] author team. It was suggested to review that approach, and the team revised the wording of that sub-heading and adjusted it to align with the Armenian History curriculum,” Sargsyan said, without specifying whether the edits were made in response to the Russian foreign ministry’s statement.
“It wasn’t so much a mistake as it was that the authors may not have considered the issue from that perspective,” Sargysan explained.
The Russian foreign ministry statement seemingly accused Armenia’s government of rewriting history, in an effort to downplay Russia’s role.
“Questioning the special role of the Russian Empire, and later the USSR and Russia, in the formation of today’s Armenia means going against well-known facts,” the Russian statement said.
“It represents another shameless attempt to rewrite our common history in the best traditions of Western propaganda and political engineering, where white is called black, with the active participation of certain Armenian figures who are zealously trying to serve their patrons,” the Russian foreign ministry added.
This entire episode played out on Friday as a special ceremony was being held in the town of Oshakan in Armenia’s Armavir Province, where the final battle of the Russo-Persian war was fought and won in 1827. After the signing of a treaty in 1828, Persia ceded control of territories in the South Caucasus, including what is the modern-day Armenia.
Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin attended the ceremony in Oshakan and was asked by reporters about the textbook issue.
He said that he had not discussed the matter with Armenian government officials and emphasized the need “to respect the history and memory of our heroic ancestors.”
Expressing his own point of view on the matter, Kopyrkin noted that the awareness of history is a fundamental process, including based on the processes that are taking place now, and the problems that countries and peoples are facing.
“However, several factors are important in this matter: honesty, aspiration, and willingness to avoid opportunistic considerations, which may seem expedient today, but the situation may change tomorrow. It is very important to maintain the core values,” Kopyrkin said.
“Another important factor is morality, respect for the memory of the ancestors and their feats. This is more important in the case of the history of our countries. That history has been complicated, requiring great sacrifices and dedication,” the Russian ambassador emphasized, adding that history is an important part of the present and the future.
“Russia sincerely values its friendship with Armenia. Our fraternal peoples are linked by centuries-old cultural and historic ties and spiritual closeness. And this fact cannot be erased by attempts to rewrite history,” Kopyrkin said during the Oshakan ceremony.
“Despite the fact that the paragraph dedicated to the Battle of Oshakan was removed from the new Armenian History textbook for the 8th grade, we will always remember and honor the heroes. And today’s event is an eloquent testimony that they will always remain in the hearts of our people,” the Russian Ambassador stressed.
Kopyrkin recalled that, despite that the Russia-Armenian detachment won the Battle of Oshakan, and despite the Persian army’s superiority and vast manpower, proving, he said, “those who are united for one purpose are a powerful force and can survive and win in any circumstances.”
“I am convinced that centuries will pass, but the undying glory of the valiant defenders of the Armenian land will forever remain in the memory of our people as a vivid example of courage and heroism,” Kopyrkin added.
