Bouchakjian: Fate of the Community Is Not a Matter of Concern for Syrian-Armenian Leaders Alone
YEREVAN/BEIRUT (A.W.)—Armen Rustamyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau and head of the party’s political affairs, said that the situation in Syria has gotten progressively worse over the past year, as Islamic State (IS) insurgents have escalated their attacks.
“The Armenians of Syria continue to resist and we do our best to help from here. Armenian churches still function, the parties still function, but we have to do our utmost to—at the very least—ensure their safety and wellbeing,” said Rustamyan in an interview with 1in.am.
Rustamyan also called on the Armenian government to raise the plight of Syrian Armenians on the international level. “We should do everything we can to help out. If people want to leave and don’t have the means, then the means must be secured,” he said.
“When it comes to salvation, we must do everything to accept Syrian Armenians. Armenia’s resources are limited, of course, but there are international organizations and funds available,” he explained, adding that Armenia should look to find various solutions to the multi-layered problem.
When asked about the community still in Syria, Rustamyan explained that although it is difficult to state definitively how many Armenians remain in the country, several sources report 20,000.
Bouchakjian: Daily life continues despite crisis
ARF Bureau member Beniamin Bouchakjian, who was in Aleppo recently, said during an interview with Aztag Daily that while the situation is tense, people should not create panic or call for the immediate evacuation of the community, adding that such a decision is not one that Syrian-Armenian community leaders can take alone; the decision, he said, belongs to us all. “We [the Armenian people] will collectively—and after proper deliberation and planning—come to a decision together. And only if such a decision is made can we start thinking and talking about the next steps,” said Bouchakjian.
Over the past few weeks, there have been several attacks in Armenian-populated areas, especially in the Suleymanieh district, said Bouchakjian. He countered recent rumors that the Simon Vratsian Armenian Community Center—where the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo had moved to—had been destroyed. “While a building next to the community center was hit, luckily the damage to the center was not substantial, and reconstruction is already underway. The offices of the Prelacy have now moved to a more secure part of the building, and work continues as usual,” he noted.
“There is an interesting dynamic within the Armenian community of Aleppo today, which is reminiscent of the Armenian community of Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war. There is a true sense of togetherness and comradery among the members of the community. The Central Relief Committee, which is comprised of representatives of all the political parties, organizations, and churches, is proof of that,” said Bouchakjian, who provided details about some of the aid given to families in need throughout the city.
Bouchakjian said that daily life continues despite the crisis. “Community events, concerts, and commemorations are taking place as they normally would,” he noted, adding that “despite the harsh conditions, the Armenian community’s morale is high, and its members have been able to overcome adversity and are sustaining the community while helping those most in need.”
Such a sad state of affairs for the diaspora. We have been progressing these last 30 years with more schools, fundraisers, influential positions in our respective countries, business leaders, and most of all our nonprofits continue to flourish.
So where is the contingency planning? Who is going to step up and organize the humanitarian assistance like we did for Spitak and Gyumri. We have the resources at our disposal, we can’t look elsewhere. If you just add up the AMAA, AGBU, the three denominations of Churches, and a couple of other nonprofit organizations we have over a billion dollars in assets, is it not possible to use the interest earned for 6 months or a year for airlifting these people to safety whether it’s Armenia or Lebanon or wherever they’re welcome, or willing to relocate? This is a diaspora issue and we need to step up to the challenge. Too many are silent, too many are indifferent; I feel betrayed by our organizations in this time of need. The people of Aleppo keep asking where, who, how are we going to get out of here or receive help. For goodness sake we just got done commemorating the 100yr anniversary of the Genocide, and I was moved by the stories of so many individual heroes from the YMCA employee in Smyrna that risked his life but was responsible for rescuing over 100,000 Armenians and Greeks, the female missionaries that worked tirelessly to save the lives of tens of thousands of orphans, or even Turks that risked their lives to save some of our Grandparents.. Are these examples of heroism not resonating in us?
Since Armenia has been moving steadily into the Russian sphere of influence, why is Armenia not calling on Russia for assistance with this tragic state of affairs? Have either Armenia or Russia raised the issue in the United Nations?
Not in Russia’s interest to show the weakness and ineptness of the genocidal regime.
This reminds me of ‘Operation Solomon’– the Israeli military operation to airlift Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 1991. Non-stop flights of 35 Israeli aircraft transported 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. For us, it only took four years just to start talking about it !!
I said this before and Ill say it again I have a 3bdrm home and I will share with as many will fit I have cats and dogs but they are nice I welcome you
NEVER AGAIN is now! These Armenians need to be saved. I do admire their resilience. If they need aid, we need to collectively raise it. If they need exodus, we need to organize and provide it. I believe we need clarity on their immediate intentions and needs. And COLLECTIVELY fulfill them.
(April 24 @ 24/7/365 // May 14, 2015 at 1:09 am //)
{“…. the weakness and ineptness of the genocidal regime.”}
You are of course talking about the genocidal regime of Neo-Ottoman Sultan Erdogan: Yes ?
Because, there is no other “genocidal regime” in the neighborhood.
After all, who is the #1 supporter of ISIS in Syria ?
Why, the genocidal Anti-Christian, Anti-Armenian regime of Turkoglar*, of course.
Bonus question: which country was it that organized the invasion of Armenian populated Kessab by Islamist terrorists ?
Hint: starts with a ‘T’.
btw: if it weren’t for Russia putting a stop to it, President Obama was ready to send in the B-52 carpet-bombers to obliterate everything in Syria.
Not a single Christian or Alevi Muslim would be left in Syria today if Neocons were allowed to bomb and destroy the Syrian Arab Republic’s military. .
And those who gleefully engage in Russia-bashing need to ask which countries and Anti-Christian interests are supporting the radical (Sunni) Islamists in Syria and which countries are supporting the legitimate Syrian government – latter having protected Christians in Syria, including Syrian-Armenians, since Day 1.
—–
*
[Prosecutor says weapon-laden MİT trucks made 2,000 trips to Syria]
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_prosecutor-says-weapon-laden-mit-trucks-made-2000-trips-to-syria_380629.html
(April 24 @ 24/7/365 // May 13, 2015 at 11:47 pm //)
{“ This reminds me of ‘Operation Solomon’”}
This should also remind you that “Operation Baloney” was an Israeli public relations stunt:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32577452
{Thousands of Israeli Jews of Ethiopian origin had taken part in a rally before some demonstrators tried to storm the city’s municipality building.
Police fired tear gas and stun grenades as protesters threw bottles and bricks.
Tensions have risen after video emerged last week showing two policemen beating an Ethiopian Israeli soldier.}
{One demonstrator told Israel’s Channel 10 television channel: “Our parents were humiliated for years.
“We are not prepared to wait any longer to be recognised as equal citizens. It may take a few months, but it will happen.…Ethiopian Jews living in Israel have long complained of discrimination, and similar protests in 2012 followed reports that some Israeli landlords were refusing to rent out their properties to Ethiopian Jews.}
Ethiopian (Black) Jews are despised and hated in Israel.
They are considered less than 2nd class.
You should also remind yourself that if RoA had a rich Uncle Sam, like Israel does, who would send about $10 BILLION @ year in various forms of cash, aid, and other support to RoA, then the Government of Armenia could also do a lot of things that Israel did and does.
{“14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel”}
According to UNHCR, as of September 2014, more than 16,000 people of ethnic Armenian background had sought protection in Armenia, of whom some 12,000 are estimated to have remained in RoA.
Vast majority of those who did not stay, moved back to Syria.
btw: one of the main goals of Turkoglar is to depopulate Syria of Syrian-Armenians (…guess why?)
RoA and NKR will accept as many Syrian-Armenian that want to move there and settle.
Life will be difficult, but there is no ISIS in either RoA or NKR.
However, for very rational reasons, most Syrian-Armenians prefer to stay put for the time being, or move next door to Lebanon temporarily.
Of course enemies of Armenians keep trying to create discord amongst our people: won’t work.
What exactly does Rustamyan propose? Has he or anyone else in the ARF recently taken a look of the ever changing map of the forces on the ground in Syria. Aleppo is now on the front-line between advancing IS forces and dug-in Assad loyalists. There is no air corridors out of Aleppo and the southern land link is precarious at best.