Harris’s flirtation with Armenian voters A Love Letter or a Campaign Memo?

On the streets, the Armenian revanchists are once again having a “celebration.” This time, it’s in response to a message sent by US presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris to the Armenian community in America, commemorating Armenia's Independence Day. The message conveys her best wishes in connection with the celebration of Armenia's Independence Day, "which marks the day the Armenian people voted to secede from the Soviet Union to become a free, independent country."

In her letter, Harris expressed her commitment to deepening ties and strengthening the partnership between the US and Armenia. "Together, we can build a safer, more just and free world," the Vice President states.

The message also emphasizes that Harris remains committed to fostering a lasting peace between Armenia and its neighbours based on respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

As has long been customary among Democrats, the topic of the events of 1915 was not overlooked. “We must also never forget the Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million Armenians were deported, murdered and sent to their deaths,” Harris wrote in her message.

However, this has long ceased to be surprising—so what are the representatives of the global Armenian community celebrating?

The noteworthy aspect of Harris's letter lies in her statement: “The right of Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to return safely to their homes is vital to restoring the dignity of the Armenian people and stability in the region.”

In the Armenian camp, there is jubilation over Harris's supposed expression of her position on the "Karabakh issue." But is that really the case? It is undeniably unjust that Harris raises this issue while ignoring the plight of the 250,000 of our compatriots displaced from Western Azerbaijan. It is also concerning that the White House intentionally overlooks the fact that Baku has repeatedly offered Armenians the opportunity to remain as citizens of Azerbaijan. Such statements undoubtedly harm US-Azerbaijani relations. However, while acknowledging this, it is essential to consider another aspect of the matter. Upon closer examination of Harris's message, it becomes clear that what is far more intriguing is not what it contains, but what is conspicuously absent.

Firstly, this message was not published on either Harris’s official website, KamalaHarris.com, or on her campaign account on the social media platform X. Instead, it appeared on the websites of various Armenian organizations and media outlets. This is quite logical, considering that the message specifically states: “To the Armenian community in America.” In other words, Harris directed this message solely to Armenian organizations, which then chose to make it public. This raises the question of why Harris opted not to share the message on her official channels, somewhat diminishing its political significance.

Furthermore, although Harris’s title as "Vice President" is mentioned at the bottom of the letter, it was not printed on official White House stationery. Instead, the document features the logo of the Harris-Walz electoral alliance (with Walz as the vice-presidential candidate if Harris wins the election). Additionally, at the bottom of the letter, there is a stamp indicating “Paid for by Harris for President,” which clearly illustrates that the message was sent as part of the electoral campaign organized by the Democratic campaign team.

Lastly, the infamous passage regarding the return of Armenians to Karabakh does not mention "unconditional return" or various "international guarantees" and "free conditions." These points are precisely what the Armenian lobby seeks to introduce into global media narratives and political discourse, aiming to undermine Azerbaijan's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Karabakh region.

Moreover, radical Armenian organizations in the US have criticized Harris for not supporting Armenia and its failed project in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region during her tenure as Vice President.

Indeed, the relationship between the US and Azerbaijan in the modern era is far from smooth. This is particularly due to Washington’s ongoing attempts to use Armenia as a tool to maintain tension in the South Caucasus. However, this does not mean that the White House is willing to endorse every initiative put forth by the Armenian lobby. One piece of evidence supporting this is Harris’s congratulatory message, which, in its presentation and content, appears more as a "gesture of respect" towards the Armenian community to garner their votes rather than a demonstration of a firm stance on the Armenian-Azerbaijani resolution.