Internet Misleading and Armenia’s National Security

On February 27, 2008, I published an article on the occasion of liberation of Khojalu (Khojaly) in Artsakh-Karabakh Republic (NKR) entitled: The Truth about Khojalu (Khojaly) Events- Azeri Sources Testify-(See: http://www.karabakh-open.com/src/index.php?lang=en&id=2&nid=7961; http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com/2008/02/truth-about-khojalu-events-azeri.html#links).
In this article I mentioned: “The Azerbaijani party makes an active use of internet in an information war against Armenia and NKR. In connection with the fact that Internet-mass media influence becomes more and more dominant in the world, significance of information net on Artsakh-Karabakh conflict also increases. Besides, various internet-communities become more and more influential on public opinion shaping”.
I also mentioned: “The number of anti-Armenian sites on Artsakh-Karabakh issue, which are mainly created in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani communities settled in other countries, are increasing year by year. The sites of anti-Armenian character are focused on denying the Armenian Genocide, falsifying the Armenian history, the activity of ASALA organization are also being created by the initiative of Turkey, however, today Baku is more active than its “elder brother””.
Then, I said: “In this way Azerbaijan and Turkey have carried out much more propagandist work to succeed, which, to some extent has changed the state of affairs in the information war, and, is not always counteracted by the Armenian party. The Azerbaijani party has well-developed means for spreading disinformation”.
Besides, I stated: “It seems to be expedient to make the strategy of the RA information security more clear and work out mechanisms of corresponding “counterattacks””.
Days before, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan referred to this fact during his visit to the National Security Service for a working meeting with its leadership. At the meeting President Sargsyan said:
“I have convened this meeting to have a detailed discussion with you of the National Security Service’s work. But before we get down to core discussions I would like to make a set of relating observations, which in my opinion are significant not only in terms of your work but also from the perspective of the consolidation of forces of all government agencies and public at large”.
The President added: “Our neighbors disseminate huge amounts of disinformation not only through printed media but also through Internet about the Armenian genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I know also that we have numerous smart and well-educated young people, scientists, organizations, concerned citizens who rebuff these allegations as much as their resources allow. The role of our Diaspora Armenians is big in this area, but nevertheless this process needs daily coordination and management. I am deeply sure that the National Security Service can and is obliged to assume this responsibility” (President Serzh Sargsyan visits National Security Service, Yerevan, July 3 (2008), Armenpress).
It is the duty of the government, organizations and individuals in Armenia and Diaspora, to coordinate the efforts and resources to face the information war and the efforts exerted by the enemies to distort the facts about the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh-Karabakh conflict.
I, like many concerned Armenians, used to respond to such articles published in the Internet both in English and Arabic. While being in Iraq, I published my articles in the Internet since 2004-2005, when Iraqis made a wide use of Internet after the US-UK invasion of Iraq (in 2003). By using the web, I tried to reach to more readers; Arabs and foreigners. I also launched my blogs in February 2006. My blog (in English and Arabic- http://ara-ashjian.blogspot.com), for instance, has readers from different countries (as seen from the counter and the map on the blog which show the number of readers and the countries they enter from). I am glad to say that I have many readers from Iraq, other Arab countries including Gulf countries where, mainly, there are no Armenian communities or embassies. Well-known web sites in Arabic began to refer to my articles on Armenian history and Genocide despite the Turkish strong propaganda and Islamism dominated in these countries. I think, this arose from the academic nature of these articles. Armenia’s government has much work to do “in this process (that) needs daily coordination and management”.
Thus, by introducing facts and evidences, we can gain the trust of foreign readers and win the information war for the sake of our people and the just causes we defend.

Ara S. Ashjian,
Iraqi Armenian Civil Engineer (M.Sc.), researcher and journalist settled in:
Yerevan, Armenia
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