BEIRUT — On Tues., Oct. 6, in response to President Serge Sarkisian’s trip to Beirut, the Lebanese Armenian community announced a strike and began marching, in the thousands, to the Metropolitan Hotel, where the president was meeting with community representatives, reported the Lebanese-Armenian newspaper Aztag.
On the night of Mon., Oct. 5, hundreds of members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Zavarian” Student Organization and the ARF Youth of Lebanon greeted the president with their protests at Beirut’s international airport.
The caravan of protesters, holding signs and chanting “Stop the Protocols,” “Votch! (No!)” and “The Blood of Armenians Is Not up for Sale,” arrived from Bourdj Hammoud to the hotel, where His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, addressed the crowd before entering the meeting. He told the protesters that the Cilician Catholicosate would stay true to the Armenian Cause.
Last week, the Catholicos sent a letter to Sarkisian expressing his concern and dissatisfaction with the protocols. Before embarking on his diaspora tour, Sarkisian had a telephone conversation with the Catholicos.
Agence France Presse reported that some demonstrators clashed briefly with anti-riot police who were deployed around the hotel. A handful of people were lightly injured by police batons.
ARF Lebanon Central Committee member Avo Gidanian read the ARF’s message—delivered to the president during the meeting—to the crowd.
“After nearly 100 years of fighting for our cause, how can our enemy become our friend in the blink of an eye,” asked a visibly angry Koko Marashlian, a store owner in Bourdj Hammoud.
“These agreements will sound the death knell of our cause,” Marashlian said. “As descendants of those exiled, we are the main victims of these agreements.”
Hagop Pakradouni, one of six Armenian deputies in Lebanon’s Parliament, said the community supported improved ties between Armenia and Turkey—but not at any price. “This issue concerns Armenians worldwide and not just those in Armenia,” Pakradouni told AFP.
“We are not talking about a simple economic accord between two countries, but a historic one that concerns each Armenian family, whatever its nationality,” he said.
Community members have drawn up a petition condemning the agreements set to be signed later this month between Turkey and Armenia.
“We remember, we demand, we refuse,” read placards throughout Bourdj Hammoud
On Monday night, thousands gathered at a political rally and candlelight vigil with members of the three political parties, various religious denominations, and youth and students organizations to express a unified stance against the protocols.
Sarkisian is scheduled to visit the Russian Armenian community in Rostov, Russia, for the last leg of his diaspora tour.
Abriss & long live the Armenian community of Lebanon. You are still the vibrant heart and soul of the Armenian Diapora. Although the Armenian Community in Lebanon has shrunk and deminished in numbers, since the times that I was there and left (early 1970’s), it still commands respect. Recently, I was in Bourj Hammoud during the Lebanese elections, seeing the organization and actions of our Armenians there, made me proud of my Armenian ancestry and origin.
President Sarkissian, open your eyes and ears, open your heart to the pleas, wishes and demands of Armenians worldwide. Do not become a second Vasag, Armenians do not forgive traitors easily, It has been over 15 centuries since Vasag’s treason and no Armenian has named his son Vasag.
Long live the Armenian Nation, Long Live the Armenian Diaspora, victory is ours.
Asbet Balanian
former member of Aghbalian Badanegan Miutyun
currently Philadelphia, PA USA