No myths or illusions Armenia changes its symbols for the future

The Armenian government’s decision to remove the image of Mount Ağrı from the official stamp used at the state border has sparked a storm of emotions in the neighbouring country, which, in fact, was expected. As is well known, generations of Armenians were taught from childhood to harbour animosity toward Türkiye and Azerbaijan—a sentiment that was also cultivated at the official level. In this context, one needs only recall the blatantly racist statement by Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, about the “genetic incompatibility of Armenians and Azerbaijanis.” Armenian citizens were similarly indoctrinated regarding “incompatibility” with Turks.

Located in present-day Türkiye, Mount Ağrı had long been transformed into an Armenian “national symbol,” entrenched not only in the collective consciousness of Armenians but also reflected in the country’s coat of arms. This served as a demonstration of Armenia’s official territorial claims against the Republic of Türkiye.

One could argue endlessly that the mountain is merely a cultural symbol, a spiritual landmark, or an image from Armenian legends. Yet real politics does not operate on ethereal concepts. For Ankara and Baku, the mere presence of Mount Ağrı in Armenia’s state symbols signalled that official Yerevan had not abandoned its revanchist ideology.

This is precisely why any progress in normalising Armenia–Türkiye relations has repeatedly stalled over such symbolic, yet highly sensitive, issues. In other words, if the matter depended solely on domestic sentiment within Armenia, Mount Ağrı would likely have remained on stamps, the coat of arms, and other state symbols for decades to come.

However, the time for necessary, albeit forced, change has arrived. Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day war of 2020 and the brilliantly executed counter-terrorist operation in September 2023, the country fully restored its territorial integrity. In these new realities, Yerevan was compelled to consider how to implement a project of a “real Armenia” and to bring the country out of self-imposed isolation.

That is why the decision to remove Mount Ağrı from official stamps is not a mere gesture of goodwill, but a necessary step. Without eliminating symbols perceived by neighbouring countries as provocative, progress in peace talks and the opening of borders would remain unattainable.

The reaction of Armenian revanchists was entirely predictable. They once again threw tantrums, shouting about the “destruction of national identity” and accusing the authorities of “betrayal”—essentially putting on the same tired, overblown show that deserves no attention whatsoever.

The reality in the region, however, has changed dramatically. Türkiye and Azerbaijan are now setting the rules of regional politics, and international actors openly state that Armenia’s genuine integration into the region is only possible if revanchism is abandoned. It is therefore unsurprising that, commenting on this change, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan emphasised that the new stamps reflect the ideology of a “real Armenia.”

Looking deeper, this represents an attempt to build a new state philosophy based not on the myths of the past, but on the practical interests of the present. Within this framework, the removal of Mount Ağrı from state symbols is only the first step.

The next, and far more important, stage is amending the Armenian constitution. As long as it contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan, a comprehensive peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan remains impossible.

Armenia must clearly establish that it holds no claims to foreign territories. Once this is done, the last political and legal barriers to signing a comprehensive peace treaty with Azerbaijan and opening the border with Türkiye will be removed, since one naturally follows from the other—a point recently reaffirmed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

“As soon as an agreement is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the process of normalising relations between Ankara and Yerevan will begin,” he said at a conference hosted by the Italian Institute of International Affairs (IAI) in Rome.

Thus, there is no alternative path: amendments to the Armenian constitution must be made. It is simple, gentlemen—the way out lies exactly where the way in was.