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Nanore Barsoumian
Nanore Barsoumian was the editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2014 to 2016. She served as assistant editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2010 to 2014. Her writings focus on human rights, politics, poverty, and environmental and gender issues. She has reported from Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh, Javakhk and Turkey. She earned her B.A. degree in Political Science and English and her M.A. in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts (Boston).
Latest posts by Nanore Barsoumian (see all)
- What’s Behind All the Pro-Azerbaijan Articles? - October 24, 2020
- Sharp Rise in Hate Speech Threatens Turkey’s Armenians - October 8, 2020
- When Erdogan Apologizes - May 9, 2019
The Syrian conflict most probably wil drag on for years. That’s why I do think that Diaspora organizations (and Syrian Armenians) in coordination with the NKR authorities must TODAY start building homes/shelters in liberated territories for ALL Armenian (and Assyrian) refugees who whould want to move to Armenia/Artsakh. It is a SHAME that Armenia/Armenians could NOT receive proparly the few thousand Armenians who fled Iraq and moved to Armenia.
My heart goes with Armenians in Syria, who are facing unknown future.
Diaspora Armenians in all Muslim countries had always to deal with this unknown.
Hard to say what’s the future for any Christian in a predominantly Muslim country, in peace time or apparent Islamic takeover. As it happened in Iran, and now happening throughout Arab and Muslim countries.
I hope that Armenian government has a contingency plan in place to facilitate migration from not only Syria, but from all Muslim countries to Armenia.
We have no reason to reject the notion of “A current secular opposition to Assad regime on ground”, but Syrian Armenians should ask themselves “which ‘Muslim-Secular government in the world’ maintained equal rights for their minorities as it was part of their initial constitution?”
Turkey? No, not that one, but perhaps one would say Lebanon.
Though it’s hard to expect Syria becoming a second Lebanon, we should be aware that Lebanon’s constitutional rights are still in mutation in favor of predominant Muslim population and Islamist political parties.
After all, what are the gains for Christian Armenians in Muslim countries?
We had ‘Yeprem Khan’ and many Armenian revolutionaries who fought for constitutional monarchy in Iran. Many also joined the revolution against Shah’s dictatorial regime hopping for more equal rights! But we witnessed that Armenians lost most of their rights the day after Islamic takeover?
That’s the bitter reality in Muslim world; Syrian-Armenians should seriously look at their best chances and best solutions.
If there are Syrian Armenians or other Armenians in Muslim countries, willing to stand oppression and fight for their freedom and rights, for a long lasting results, why not consider to dedicate their efforts in developing Armenia, protecting Artsakh and/or reclaiming our Nakhijevan?
Just please go to http://www.armeniannews.info and if you are kind(pari) read my articles…. clicking on top left hand corner “”Users Articles>>part of which deals with REPATRIATION!!!!!!!
thaks.
Gaytzag palandjian
Great and very Objective Article , I would like to add a comment .
” Most of the Armenians in #Syria are not afraid from the Syrian Revolution, but afraid from the Butcher Assad & Co. , because they are few & well known ”
Hagop Alsoury
( I will reveal My Identity if I receive some assurances )
How do you know what “most” Armenians in Syria want ?
What, you conducted some kind of controlled scientific poll ?
Even polls conducted that way can be skewed depending how the questions are framed.
Syrian-Armenians I have talked to in California, and relatives in Syria want nothing to do with any revolution. Admittedly it is not a scientific poll either, but no different than your sweeping statement that “most” Armenians in Syria want this or that. You don’t know what “most” Armenians want.
As to Assad, and dictatorships,etc: no doubt, Baath party and Assad are no shrinking violets. But Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, etc are also brutal dictatorships. How is it that no revolutions are being fomented there ?
In fact Saudi Arabia sent troops into Bahrain to crush a popular revolt: how come nobody was complaining about that ?
And everyone is pointing to several thousand Syrians killed by government forces: fair enough.
But how about the 2,000 or so Government security personnel killed ?
What about the terrorist bombings that have killed scores of innocent bystanders ?
This is at least more objective than the other ridiculous Armenian media about Syria, but there is still some problematic things. Such as why there is not a mention of why this uprising took a hold in the first place, the government killing the kids in Deraa. There is only mention of what happened to Armenians, one Armenian was killled and kidnapped, 28 people died in Haleb, but what about 8000 Syrians who died and the massacres by the government in Hims? When do Armenians look to their conscience?
Also, there is some things that are not factual, such as the claims about Muslim Brotherhood being the only organised on the ground, it is the complete opposite. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is exiled and has little ground organisation, the participation is limited to the SNC. You can go on SNC website and see their platform and constitution, there is nothing “Islamic” about it, and there are dozens of members from Christian, Alawite, Assyrian, Kurds, seculars, etc.
The main group on the ground in the Local Coordinating Committees and Syrian Revolution General Commision. Guess who leads both of these groups, 2 women, Razan Zaitouneh and Suheir Atassi. I guess this must be radical Islamists.
Dear Armenians, stop blocking out your conscience, stop forcing yourselves to accept lies to make yourselves feel better. Stop calling those of us who spoke out as “traitors” and stop being scared of this government. We have to participate in this revolution and carve the future for ourselves.
It is very heart breaking to know that our people are in danger..
Here is the time where our govt can truly do good not only for those Armenians who may end up leaving Syria and/or any Muslim countries and move to ARmenia but also for our own country because we can populate our cities/villages… of course this requires organization, stratigic thinking, preparation, etc.. not sure if our govt is capable of taking on such a huge project… they can’t even get the current situation fixed let alone this.. but if there is a will there is a way.. ..
if anyone knows or hears anything about such a project, please share..
I pray to God that no other Armenian gets hurt during these conflicts in Syria and may God protect them and keep them safe…
Gayane
What is so ironic is that so many of the Armenians in Syria are descendants of survivors of the death marches during World War I. Foreign consulates in Aleppo, which at the time was part of the Ottoman Empire, began to notice escapees from the death marches showing up there. So the city of Aleppo itself, plays a very pivotal role in Armenian history, World War I, the history of genocide, and how the mechanics of genocide in the past, helps us to learn about on-going and future human rights abuse.
show us who called you “traitors” on the pages of AW.
“We have to participate in this revolution and carve the future for ourselves.” you write.
When you say “we”, who do you mean ? Syrian-Armenians ?
If Syrian -Armenians participate in violence, the only thing they’ll carve out is themselves: Armenians will be carved out of Syria.
masis:
People who thought like you were wrong about what would happen in Iraq after the fall of Saddam, wrong about Libya after Gaddafi, and will most certainly be wrong about any post Assad government. There are no secular opposition groups in the Arab world because they have been crushed and disbanded, whereas religious groups can hid out in madrases and mosques, pretending to be doing holy work but instead fomenting dissent. I am not making a value judgement here, just stating the obvious that seems to be overlooked for some reason. Anyway, you enjoy playing ‘freedom fighter’, the rest of us will hopefully remain more down to earth and in touch with reality.
For AVERY and AR
First, you must be disconnected from the Armenian community here, because they do call us traitors and they hunt out anyone who dissents and tries to make us shut up. Yes, I mean we, Syrian Armenians. I am not Halebtsi, I am from Damascus, however we are just as much a part of Armenian Syrian community as the Halebtsis are, and also Armenians in Qamishli/hasake, Latakia, etc.
For a reality check, there is no Muslim Brotherhood on the ground in Syria. The Muslim Brotherhood is in EXILE. Do you know what exile means? As I already stated, they participate in SNC, because their leaders are exiled and that is all they can do. All the groundwork is with the Local Coordinating Comittees. You are free to research into the LCC and see who is the members, leaders, and the positions. Until you do research and learn about what they do not tell you on Dunia TV, please do not make an “analysis” about what is happening in Syria. If you do not know who is organising, then do not claim that I am wrong. Syria is not Iraq or Libya, we have a popular uprising, not a foreign occupation. We do not have Islamist on the ground, they are outside Syria. LCC is secular, so is Suheir Atassis group.
Also, The Muslim Brotherhood participation is through the SNC, and you are free to check the SNC positions, and you can see their members also on their site.
I will post some here:
The SNC is committed to achieving its objectives within the following basic principles:
Working to overthrow the regime using all legal means.
Affirming national unity among all components of Syrian society (e.g., Arabs and Kurds, as well as ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups) and rejecting all calls for ethnic strife.
Safeguarding the non-violent character of the Syrian Revolution.
Protecting national independence and sovereignty, and rejecting foreign military intervention.
The New Syria – General Principles
The new Syria is a democratic, pluralistic, and civil state; a parliamentary republic with sovereignty of the people based on the principles of equal citizenship with separation of powers, smooth transfer of power, the rule of law, and the protection and guarantee of the rights of minorities.
The new Syria guarantees for all its citizens what is declared by international laws in terms of human rights and basic freedom of belief, opinion, expression, assembly, the press, and other rights. In addition, all of its inhabitants will enjoy equal rights and duties without any discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender.
The government is committed to ambitious plans for economic and human development.
The new Syria is committed to combating poverty and focusing on developing disadvantaged areas. It regards achieving justice and equal opportunity among all citizens to be a national duty.
To achieve equity in the distribution of national wealth, since national resources belong to all Syrians in the context of good governance, and directing benefits from development to raising the capabilities and standard of living of all sectors of society and all regions, particularly the most disadvantaged.
The new Syria is committed to eradicating illiteracy and providing factual information to the general population.
The new Syria, with its civil and democratic system and constitution, provides the best assurance to all Syrians from all ethnic, religious, and sectarian backgrounds.
The constitution guarantees national rights for the Kurdish people and a resolution to the Kurdish question in a democratic and fair manner within the framework of the unity of Syrian territory and people, as well as the exercise of rights and responsibilities of equal citizenship among all citizens.
The constitution guarantees national rights for the Assyrian people and a resolution to the Assyrian Syriac question in a democratic and fair manner within the framework of the unity of Syrian territory and people, as well as the exercise of rights and responsibilities of equal citizenship among all citizens.
The new Syria guarantees full rights of women, including ensuring their effective participation in political life and all other sectors.
The new Syrian state will have a positive role and impact on the stability of the Arab and regional system as well as on the international level.
The new Syria will work to restore its sovereignty in the occupied Golan Heights on the basis of relevant and legitimate international laws and resolutions.
The new Syria will support the full and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The new Syria will promote Arab and regional solidarity and cooperation, and will build relations with other states on the basis of mutual respect and national interests.
There are several sources which have stated the MB is quite active in Syria, and now we see the al-Qaeda is too! To claim that this is only a popular uprising is dishonest, it is well documented that foreign funding and arms are what has been propelling this movement. Mainly from the US and Saudi Arabia. None of the Syrian-Armenians I have spoken with support your position and there are a number of reasons for that. I’m very suspicious about your motives. And you claim MB is just a part of the SNC, fair enough, but the MB was also just a part of the anti-Mubrak crowd as well yet because they were organized and presented a united front, unlike the other groups, they recently took the most seats in the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Similar trends can be seen in Libya, and I will predict the same for Syria. So it is very simple and short sighted of you to claim that Syria will be different when we have precedent to show us otherwise and we can clearly see that the MB is the most organized Islamist group in the Middle-east.
It is very uneffordable , need a solution immidately.
Come on NATO, we all know you want to…
If NATO or Western powers go into Syria then, as in previous cases, the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis will be promoted to power. Then Armenians and other Christians could look forward to terrible suffering like the Copts in Egypt, dhimmitude, and sharia (un)law. The article suggest that Armenians in Syria are doing right by trying to stay neutral. My guess is that will support from Russia and China Assad will not fall. The Syrian opposition organization hosted in Turkey is mostly staffed with Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi types; no surprise there.
Agreed. NATO takes down a dictator, puts a worse one in place, and then re-invades a decade later.
If we had an Armenian government that really cared about the diaspora I think they should start planning on armenians going back to live in Armenia or in
Kharabagh.The armenians of Lebanon and Syria are the grand children of
armenians who were deported and masacred and thrown into the syrian desert..Armenia and the Republic of Karabagh better start working on building
businesses and housing for the return of armenians.But how can that happen when the armenians from armenia are leaving the country which is
full of corruption and there is no justice.Armenians will always suffer in moslem lands.We finally have an Armenian states and lets demand the government to take care of us.Why should we fight other peoples wars.Let s go back home and fight for our own freedoms.
Wow! What an absurd statement. Here let me do the reverse, if the diaspora really cared about Armenia they would invest more money into building it up! See how easy it is to make blanket statements without taking into account the many important details. Armenians leaving Armenia en masse? You must be stuck in the 90s. The recent census shows a growth not a decline, it is disinformation spreaders like yourself who claim that doom and gloom is coming to Armenia. I wonder when the last time, if ever, you stepped foot in Armenia. The reality is that Armenia has made significant progress since independence all in the face of a horrible earthquake, war, blockade, and no significant natural resources. Yet people like you continue to harp on the negative, be subjective, and never once give credit where credit is due!
One must be realistic and try to see the BIGGER picture and the long-term effect/situation/solution.
The so-called “Arab spring” is (being) hijacked. Unfortunately, it is NOT anymore about democracy, human rights, etc. It’s become a brutal- physical power struggle between oil lovers, might lovers, khaliphate lovers, pan-turanism lovers, Kurdistan lovers, money lovers, pipeline lovers, territory lovers, beard lovers, etc.
In THIS situation the future is NOT looking good- specially for (christian) minorities. Look at Iraq. So, GET OUT while you can. Why should Armenians care about Syria/ Arabs after all. Do Arabs care about Armenia(ns)? We wish them all the best, but get out and start a new life in Armenia/Artsakh. It is NOT easy- I do understand. But, at least, you will be physically alive and on YOUR soil.
Well said Varaz… I agree.. It is better to be on our soil however difficult life may be with our corrupt govt running the country but at least it is better than living on any Moslem soil…
Varaz:
I agree the long term situation for Armenians in non-Western countries or non-European countries is not good. After “democracy” came to Iraq, the Iraqi-Armenian community was devastated. And despite the difficulties in Armenia and Artsakh, one thing for sure: an Armenian is much safer there, particularly now – with a powerful RoA military standing watch.
But it is wrong to claim Arabs have done nothing for Armenians. Let us not conflate all Muslims. After 1915, Arab countries sheltered the AG survivors, particularly Syria and Lebanon. Armenians communities in Syria and Lebanon kept our gene pool going. Armenians definitely owe a debt of gratitude to Arabs countries that sheltered our Genocide survivors. Quite a large number of us are alive today because our parents lived in Syria and Lebanon.
Please Gentlemen(Baronayk)http://www.armeniannews.info ……………..Top left hand corner USERS Articles
Try to find a common denominator,rather come to a compromise.
AR.Varaz,Richard ,Masis,Avery et al….
Those who defend Arab,Persian,Turkish()yes even Istabulla Armens)the people within whom they are living is called THE OLD Diaspora in my theory,Thus:-
1.Those who left Western Armenia ,rather were evicted, from 1890 to 1918´and on,settled down in mainly arab countries ,some in Iran and Eastern Armenia,Russian Federation , or ex soviet union, plus of coursse N.And S.Americas,EU countreis the Balkans ..it goes on…
These are with stronger
I assure you near everything is there, from Reorganization of the Diaspora and REPATRIATION.
Armenia?Artsakh?…wwell I don´t want to be pessimistic and /or offensive..Hopefully they will also oblige ONCE THEY US WELL ORGANIZED AND WITH A POWERFULL (no sorry no A) with TWO main
instruments ORGANIZED HIUMAN RESOURCES, AND THROUGH THEMÇ
OUR E C O N O M I C POWERHOUSE!!!
The ´´NATIONAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND¨ PERIOD…
And please to do not be silent after reading opine, I´d love some Negaitve criticism as well. For a Silent stance bodes bad, very very bad…..
Hama Haigagani SIRO,
Gaytzag palandjian
I just want to give my admirations and say Bravo to Masis Boghosian on his February 16, 2012 comment .
Abriss Massis and vartzkd kadar , all braves are alone at first but their work will be remembered in the future .
If Al-Qaeda footprints exists now in Syria that is thanks to Bashar the amatuer criminal .[ PERIOD !!! ]
I am sorry AR but many armenians from the diaspora have gone to Armenia to do business and they were lied to or they stole from them with false papers,
one man from california ,I am not exactly sure ,but i think he was going to buy famland and plant wheat and some other business man from Armenia told him that they would burn his fields if he did that.There was Mrs. Najarian a doctor went to open a medical clinic and she had trusted a judge with buying a house and he almost stole the house from her.And latetly the story of Cafe Paris in Yerevan, the owner got fed up with the system.And there is a lot of bribery going on just to open a business.
1. Who are exactly these so-called SNC and ” Syrian Free Army”? Hardcore sunni militias financed by Saudi wahhabi-salafi petrodollars? You do not bomb buildings into “democracy”. And why do you think that SNC will DO what is says once in power?
2. Assad, most probably, will not fall, as Syria has powerful friends. Fall of Assad will be too bad for Iran, and China can NOT without Iranian oil. Russia can not lose its only Tartus naval base on Syrian coastline, and Its ONLY land route to Mediterranean via Georgia-Armenia-Iran-Iraq-Syria. For Iran the same. So, my guess is that there always will be a part of Syria with Assad (or fellow Alavite/shia) in power. Which means NO real peace on horizon.
3. In this situation I advise Syrian Armenians (specially the younger ones) to keep their head cool and NOT to take any side. It is not Armenians’ war.
4. There are vacant lands along the Arax river in Artsakh. For example, the towns Kovsakan (former Zangelan: now some 300 inhabitants), Mijnavan (former Minjevan: the same inhabitants). These places have beautiful landscape, mild/warm klimate, only some 300-400 m. above see level, you can harvest twice in a year. And you can start a new life with much lesser money. Why not get an official (UN) refugee status from Armenian authorities and start a new life. Can the International Community tell why you resettle there? Hell no, as your are the victims of their dirty war. If I were Syrian Armenians, I would send a delegation to Armenia/Artsakh to discuss these and related matters. And this does NOT have to be a whole exodus from Syria: they can do it step by step as it suits them best.
Richard – Unfortunately it is true what you say. But many Diasporans trust too easily and do not double-check (before doing business). It is NOT only the Diasporans who were victims. Many Hayastantsi Armenians were victims as well. But the remedy is the same: double check, put everything on paper, check again and play safe. And unite: create organizations who would come up for your rights.
My last post , w/heading ERRATA, alas was not published here.Never mind.
Right now my plea is to follow up with news coming from shjant TV. of Armenia as rgds, the 8th Anniversary of murdering
the Armenian office -while asleep- by a blood thirsty OZADZNOUND-MY VERSION-with an AXE..
The two having the discussion debate tried to explain that it is because the Azeri propaganda machine has since its inception viz. 1918 (when Azerbaijan was created by the Brits.) see prof R.G.hovanissian books R.of Armenia 4 volumes.
One insisting that it only is due to that propaganda (in short the Govt.9 ,whereas the other had the courage to say that it may also be due to other reasons…
mY OPINION? IT IS IN THEIR GENES as well from Lengtemour and Genkhis khan days….opinion is free ain´t it Avery?
I cannot understand how our compatriots in Homeland are not as yet well educated by peer and their WIRTERS, INTELLECTUALS THAT WE HAVE OLD VERY OLD EXPERIENCE WITH THESES different tri besmen that came in hoards from the Asian stepps and conquereed area now calle R.of Turkey (prev. Ottoman Empire) biut it has collpase, like other Empires…
Now is tiome to siege it from all sides,peacefully , mind you with our COUNTER PROPAGANDA.Never stop saying that what happened in Budapest with our officer was not because he was brainwashed VERY EFFICIENT PROPAGANDA SYSTEM IN ARMENIA ARTSAKH TO INTRODUCE WHAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWE4D TO TALK ABOUT PROPERLY(EXCEPTIONS GRANTED) mAINSTREAM ARMENS THERE STILL THINK WHAT lENIN sTALIN ADVOCATESD IS p o s s i b l e with neighbour brother azeris…
my foot!!!!!
Say whatever you want to , we need to somehow TRY TO ENTER IN RA, I BELIEVE THROUGH AS I HAVE SUGGESTED BY HAVING 5 PERMANENT REPS. FROM OUR MAIN FIVE COMMUNITIES….THUS BY AND BY ENTERING INTO THE MAINSTREAM ARMENIAN MENTALITY …INJECTING MORE OF OUR KNOWLEDGTE(LEARNT IN fREE COUNTRIES)…
i BELIEVE >i HAVE SAID ENOUGH. Only request is that if we tolerate ea other and cooperate we can move things there.
So time to get the PCA´s organzied in alll ARmenian dense Townships…Professional Colleagues Associations.Therein we can mervel mix w/ea other and learn from ea other have more tolerance etc., in short BECOME SOCIETIZED (Civil Societies) …these then can see to it that the ordinary vahan vajag in far flung areas of RA Artsakh aare more updated as to whom we are dealing with…..
Some on a thread here twisted what I wrote TOTALLY WHEN I HAD COMPARED OUR CONFLICTIVE STANCE WITH OUR 2 NEIGHBOURS TURCO AZERIS, WHEN I WROTE LIKE PALESTINAINS ,ISRAELIS , BAKISTAN INDIA CANNOT SO EASILY BECOME FRIENDS…HE WROTE BACK THAT CANNOT BE COMAPRED…
HOW COME? EVEN WORSE i´D SAY ,LATTER, MAY SOMEHOW GET TO BE AT LEAST LIKE THEY USED TO SAY(IN PEACEFULL CO EXISTANCE) BUT US WITH tURCO aZSEERIS?????very doubtfull.unless…
powers to be hit them hard ECONOMICALLY OR OTHERWISE AND THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES. LiKE Now sarkozy la france is trying to…
BEST TO hASGCOGHIN
In the given situation I think the best course for the Armenian community of Syria as a whole is to run a neutral course. The advice of the Armenian from Aleppo, T.N. sounds wisest: “If you can stay neutral, that is the best option. If you can’t, try to put your eggs in more than one basket.” I wil add to that the following: Individual Armenians may join any political group according to their own political preferences as Syrian citizens and not in the name of their community.
Avery – absolutely, I do not deny that arabs hepled the Armenians during the Genocide and we are very thankful to them. On the other hand, many Armenians (especially in Lebanon and Syria) contributed to their societies. So, after all, it was not all free.
Arshag – In Syria too they see you first as Armenian, and then as Syrian citizen. It is in all countries like this. Specially in a conflict situation – with an ethnically different christian minority population. Neutrality is the best, true. Although the neutrality of one group sometimes irritates the conflicting sides too.
It’s quite a shame that people are too easily deceived and fall for these fake revolutions in Arab countries.
IN ALL ABOVE POSTS-MIND YOU I DID NOT REALLY GO THROUGH ALL METICULOUSLY(DETAIL<) but i find jack is R I G H T !!!! I AGREE, those reolutions are in no way comparable to Russian ,chinese,American,m french and other such revolutions.AT BEST ,EVEN IF NOT FAKE THEY ARE SUPERFICIAL!!!! IN MY BIBLE THEY -LIKE IN EGYPT, LYBIA AND NOW SYRIA DO NOT ACTUALLY VY OR WISH TO HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE,BUT JUST TO OVERTHROW A DESPOT AND THEN L---LIKE IN EGYPT-THEY DON´T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE HEADED, SAME IN GADAFI COUNTRY LYBIA AND NOW IF IT HAPPENS IN SYRIA ,LIKEWISE THEY WILL START FIGHTING FACTION AGAINST FACTION.NONE WILL ,IN A SHORT PERIOD ESTABLISH A CHANGED STATUS,WITHA COALITION OR RECONCILIATION GOVT. NOT THAT I WISH THEM TO BE SO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS SO jack.
It is an interesting article and also raises many questions.
1-The Editor with all respect does not know the details of the Christian communities in Syria. One mistake is saying “Syrian Christians” does it mean Syriac or all non Armenian Christians.
2-The article and the way it is written representing the views is a mess. If you know Arabic we call it (taboule). That is one looses the track while reading it. Is that the intention?
3-A very suspicious view which goes very well with the foreign media is the T.N character. Giving this T.N character that does not represent even 1% of Armenians such a big space in the Article. This T.N who was anonymous says he heard tank shells and bombs how does he differentiate that as a citizen and where does he live in Syria. I have many things I can also add I will say only these thus far.
Hello from Istanbul. My heart goes out to Armenians in Syria. I hope that the situation won’t worsen for them. I also fear what might happen if Assad regime collapses. The Sunni Islamists are not so trustable, I think.
I am also upset at the role my country has played so far. Turkey is right to provide humanitarian aid but intervening in a political way in Syria is so wrong ! It writes in the article that many Turkish operatives were caught in Syria. We didn’t hear this in the Turkish media but I fear it might be true.
The current government of Turkey is pursuing a neo-Ottomanist agenda, which I don’t approve of. Also, it is sad that the relations between Turkey and Armenia are still in a ‘no-hope’ status ! The ‘protocols’ have virtually collapsed. There is no sign that Turkey will open the border anytime soon.
Just know that there are many people in Turkey who hope for better Turkey-Armenia relations (we are still in the minority but our number is not so small anymore).
Peace !
Dear ack,
What I relayed above was a bit off course..but none the less ,I hope a little to the point that those people are out on the street,exactly as you watch them on the screen(T.V.) sort of a big show.Indeed main objective being overthrow of a DESPOT.But als a show for the youth and the young and the like Babiks Mamiks.The real politicians acting behind the scnes.
Now I am to try to drive home something that is more of substance for us Armenians. We did not grasp and continue to ignore that a PEOPLE CAN ONLY LIVE AND THRIVE ON OWN LAND,WHETHER UNDER MAOIST,COMMUNIST ,CAPITALIST RULE .An example>In Spain where I live a qtr century and go back and forth every year sine 20 yrs..I learnt the following/
Catalans, a people(not yet a state people) do not and did not leave their soil,immigrate they stuck to their land.Wereas the Gallegos (Galicia up Northwest of Spain ,are everywhere from B-Aires to Calif,. etc., Barcelona ,capital of cataluna is world famous and is THRIVING IN ARTS, ECONOMY(NOW OF COURSE ALL WORLD ECONOMIES HIT WITH THE ECONOMIC CRUNCH).But they have advanced immensely,compared to Gaallegos that constantly have left their Tierras…lands..
Armenians shoudl head back to the Ararat basin ,around it and Artskah javakhq,Armenia…,untill we get back some of our Western portion of the Barcr Hayk Erzeroum(Karin0 my ancestral lands home..
Otherwise , if we keep on going fromn Syria to Ganada, B-Aires of Calif. we are being uprooted once more again and being like Gypsies.What turks WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE…
hence do please enter and read my articles(politico press won’t publis them in
http://www.armeniannews.info …go to top left corner ,under USERS Articlesw
thanks.We can et muster up clout with a N.Investment Trus Fund and …start Repatriation.We did not depend on Soviet Armenia to Reatriat after WWI nor can we depend on this indpendent one…WE HAVE TO ORGANZIE IT FROM oversea. abroad. russia near abroad .rad me pleasse and comment even negatively.if you keep silent that bodes bad..Thanks
G.palandjian
Varaz Syuni
You didn’t read my comment fully. I had quoted the Armenian from Aleppo as such: “If you can stay neutral, that is the best option. If you can’t, try to put your eggs in more than one basket.”
It’s true, maintaining neutrality in a conflict situation may not be easy either for the reason you stated, but the quotation goes further than that: “… If you can’t (keep neutral), try to put your eggs in more than one basket”.
As regards individual Armenians, one cannot prevent them from the right to participate in the political developments of the country of which they are a citizen, no matter how the uninformed part of the public sees them. After all many may rightfully think Syria is their homeland and they have a responsibility to help change their country for the better.
Anti-racist
Nice to see you again in these pages. I am happy to hear that your numbers are increasing. If good people like you join hands they may hopefully bring evil forces to their knees at some point.
Unfortunately, there are some American-Armenians like Masis Boghosian and Hagop Alsoury who have been brainwashed by the corporate-owned media in the US (and the West in general).
Also, while I’m usually in favour of Armenians repatriating to Armenia, I think that all Armenians leaving Syria would be a terrible event to occur. The communities in Syria and Lebanon are the most important Armenian communities in the world. We cannot afford to lose them. Մե՛ծ կորուստ կը լինի հայ դատին համար։
Dear Dro,
Even if my dream comes true and we can organize a REPATRIATION to RA/Artsakh Javakhq…who ever thinks or thought it would be to repatriate all 100% of Syrian,Iranian,Iraqui,Lebanese and other Middle East Armenians..
WE WOULD BE LUCKY IF WE COULD HALF O F THEM…
MOREVOER IN MY SUGGGESTIONS, I DO MAKE A POINT THAT WE HAVE 3 TYPES OF DIASPORAS.PERHAPS YOU MISSED IT ..HERE GOES AGAIN.-
1.Those that constitute the very old Ciasporas in the americas,Europe,Russia and Middle East.that left Armenian lands from 1890´s to 1918…THIS I CLASIFY AS OUR OLD DIASPORA T H E R E T O S T A Y…
2. Those who left their 2nd adopted countries after wwII and Upheavals/revolutions in Midddle East some 50/60 years old
3.Those (Third main wave) From Baki,Sumagait
and RA around 1990´s some 20 years old MORE OR LESS.
If we can salvage the latter plus some of those category 2 to REPATRIATE, it would be a Triumph….
As to your or someone else´s post that we need the middle Eastern Diaspora as long a s we have the HAY TAHT…Correct!!!!
I agree, because we must show to the world that these people are craving to GO BACK TO THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS,ONCE WE DO GET THEM BACK.
But that will come a bit later.First we must win our CASE AT THE ICJ AT THE HAGUE and receive B L O O D M O N E Y….
tHIS QUITE A FEW ARE WELL AWARE OF, BECAUSE IT HAS ANTECEDENTE,OH SORRY WROTE IN SPANISH. PRECEDENT…
best to hasgcoghin
I just wrote under the above caption ,rather article , of Nanore Barsoumian through Yahoo.com ,my Facebook does not attract mer.there a lot of not serious talks etc.,
BOTTOM LINE OF MY ARTICLE THERE.
ONCE WE ACHIEVE THE National Investment Trust fund, we can indeed commence the REPATRIATION(SEE MY WRITS ) IN http://www.armeniannews.info
PLEASE… building NEW TOWNSHIPS, AVANS, VILLAGES AWAY FROM YEREVAN, VANADZOR SAY ON NEAR DESEERT SPACES(i TRAVELLED LAST YEAR9 BETWEEN YEREVAN AND gYUMRI OVER 2 AND HALF HOURS BY CAR , ALL desert amayi…THERE, IN kARVAJAR. aS MY PESSIMISTIC FRIEND (VERY FRIENDLY BUT CONTRADICTING ME ALL THE TIME) tHE yERVANITS AND gUYMRIETSI WILL NOT , AND CANNOT WELCOME-THEY THEMSSELVES ARE IN BAD CONDITIONS-THAT DIASPORANS COME AND TAKE THERE LAND ,.FOOD AND WORK AWAY…TRANQUILO I TOLD HIM WE SHALL BUILD NEW TOWNS, VILLAGES WITH THE 100 BILLION INVEST TRUST FUND.
NUCLEUS OF A BILLION DOLLAR -WORKING CAPITAL*-AGAIN SEE MY DETAILED WRITS IN http://www.armeniannews.info …. which capital will grow once it is established in Geneva by our 6/7 magnates and their proxies and In´t attorneys have is esregistered and running then our millionaires , dowen to hundred thousand dolalr investors, down to ten and thousand dollars investors down to EACH SHARE AT $100.-investors will make grow in no time to the One Khundred billion …yes !!!!
iF WE HAVE DETERMINATION AND OUR bbb´S DO NOT INTERFERE,IF EVEN THEY DO THEY WILL BE CONVINCED THAT THEY CANNOT GO AGAINST THE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND STRONG pROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES ASSOC. MEMBERS!!!!
tHINK ABOUT IT MY DEAR COMPATRIOTS NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE…
please begin organizing into PCA´s Prof. Colleague Assoc. in all Armenian Densse townships.MILLION THANKS TO OUR PREVIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS BUT WE NEED MORE MUCH MORE…
THANK YOU DASHNAKS, HUCHAKS agbu. ETC., WE NEED MUCH
from Armenians for Justice in Syria | شعب الارمن متضامن مع سورية
SHAME on those who call Syria Revolution sectarian or civil conflict or armed insurgency . The only terrorist and the sectarian conflict perpetrator is Assad regime . Shooting to protesters who are not armed , shame on those who deep inside know protesters are righteous yet come up with stupid theories . SHAME SHAME SHAME . BTW we are talking about justice for now in Syria , the genocide of Armenia is a diffrent story .
First, it is NOT that bad, that Turkish-Armenian (not recognized) border is closed. And it is NOT about few or more anti-recists or some people on streets in downtown Istanbul/Polis. It is about Turkish STATE (denial) policy and multi-million (if not billion) state sponsored ANTI-Armenian propaganda. In this hostile atmosphere it is a good thing to keep turks OUTSIDE.
2. I really get confused: WHAT is հայ դատ exactly? Is it a PURPOSE on itself, a means, a (profitable) business?. What EXACTLY do you want to achieve by հայ դատ ? That one day, by a magicle stick, (some parts) of Western Armenia will become vacant and Western Armenians will return, rebuild a new life and live there long and happy? Or that one day Turkey will PAY (in money) for the crimes and you will get the money and THEN do the same? Or…? And who are these hypothetical Western Armenians that MIGHT return? Some 100-200 thousand Syrian-Lebanese Armenians? The (Western) Armenians in US/Europe in their cozy houses, whose children do not write/read Armenian anymore? Or…?
Is it not more REALISTIC that in that hypothetical case people from EAST Armenia/Artsakh might move to West Armenia?
I still remember that Syrian/Lebanese Armenian students in Soviet Yerevan/Armenia were living in own gettos, as they would not want to mix/live with Eastern Armenians.
So, let me “not fool” myself: (Western) Armenians do not want to return to vacant/liberated lands in Artsakh, but they will one day (God knows when) return to Western Armenia?
The bottom line is this, is not it?
A country has to be stable for diaspora to move to. You do realize that, right? Armenia is an unwelcoming environment. Artsakh is far from stable. There is no Western Armenia at this time, so I don’t understand your point. If a nation is built up and developed, people will migrate there. So first need achieve that goal and then criticize who moves or does not move. Why don’t you move from Amsterdam?
Jack, people with your attitude will always think Armenia is ‘unwelcoming’. If you knew better than you’d not say such things because it is false.
Charls Aznavour has formulated it quite succintly: We are one hundred percent French while we carry Armenia in our hearts. True, Middle East may not be France, but keeping a getto status will further estrange Armenian communities from their surroundings and finally will lead them to far away lands for better fortunes. Repatriation schemes, though based on patriotic incentives do not work and are not practical, as we see. Let’s be realistic. Is it imaginable that there would be a massive immigration of Diasporan Armenians to Armenia in the near future? Or, even if there would be, would Armenia be in state to accept and settle them at the present state of affairs?. So, I would say to our Syrian compatriots, see what is best to do for your homeland as you are also citizens of that country, stand your ground in the hard times like our Lebanese brothers and sisters and don’t dispair. May the Force and wisdom be with you.
Armenians move(d) to US/West on their own means . You have even Little Armenia in LA. If you can create a Little Armenia on foreign soil, I am sure you can create a Little Syrian Armenia on liberated lands too. Ask some 400-500 sq. km land from Artsakh authorities: I am sure they will “borrow” it to you for even more than 99 years.
But, of course, it all comes to this: do you REALLY WANT to repatriate and/or do you REALLY see/feel Armenia/Artsakh as your HOMELAND?
PS. Syria of 2012 is NOT Lebanon of 1975-1990.
Such a lot of pointless “by Armenians for Armenians” talk. The Armenian community in Syria is facing the same extinction that befell that of Iraq, and you ALL seem quite happy to stand on the sidelines and let it happen! Armenians in Syria can do nothing to stop the schemes of the malevolent forces in America and Britain. However, you people could, if, for once in your lives, you would get off your fat arses and try some eternal action rather than internal talk. When Georgia’s armed forces were trying to eliminate south Ossetia, what silenced a US media in full, rabid, propaganda mode? Just one young woman, a US citizen who had been in Ossetia and who pointed out on national TV that she had been saved from Georgian missiles by the Russians. One truthful account brought down the US’s house-of-cards lies. You people are in the position to do the same, to oppose the warmongering propaganda in the countries where it is being produced.
You fool!
That american citizen had nothing to lose so ofcourse she easily could stand on one side in the conflict.
The armenians in Syria on the other hand will have long-term concernes if they take part in the conflict.
Even a child would see that coming.
Though I shall post(in detail) on web site that wonderfull Armenian youngmen in CA have allowed me to post on their site, Herebelow I throw some light on above irrelevant ,to say the least viewpoints totally off course..
These are respectfuly exposed explanations to them rather then critique to what they write in the negative. Just my sugggestions to them to study more.-
1.Hay Tahd or our armenian Case/Cause has a history of more than a century.It ripened after our writers such as Raffi, Malkhas and others wrote that the Downtrodden subjugated Armenians ,mainly by ottoman turkey should begin to prepare for freedo,A God Given right to ALL PEOPLES OF THE WORLD<.
2.We have our Armenian national Committee and Assembly in the <U.S. with subsidiary of the first one all over the globe,with its offshoots, such as Homentmen, Armenian Cultural foundation, HOM Hay oknutyan Miutyun and others working ahrd since 120 yrs ago, and a 100 , and then the AGBU etc .Please learn about these.
·. We have very diligent youth and Young with _Student Assoc. in Europe and USA and now in RF and indeed from long ago in <MIDDLE EAST.
3.oNCE WE GET TO ORGANIZE INTO PCA(s) Professional Colleaggues Associations(alongside the all existing establishment) then create the National invdstment Trust Fund. we shall indeed plan to BUILD TOWNSHIPS SMALL AND LARGER TOWNS SMALL AND LARGER VILLAGES IN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH. THEN ONLY WE CAN HAVE REPATRIATION ON WAY WITH SAID FUND ´S SUPPORT.For our both HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC POWER RESIDE IN OUR HUGE COLLECTIVITIES OF THE NON -aligned young and middle aged ,i,.e, not pertaining to Political parties abnd or above establishments ,left to drift away. Luckily FIVE on the scen the Health/Medical,The BAR. The Engineers& Sciences, the Sportive and the Jewellers(latter ought to enlap all furnishings and 10 more PCA(s)such as Transport/travel .Bamkinmg Finance etc.,(pleasea see my articles)
I can take it Avery.Typically Armenian attitudes,those of above.Although i have clearly explained how we can (in brief format) by and by organize ourselves in Diaspora and forge ahead.nONE,REPEAT NOEN OF MY DEAR COMPTRIOTS REFLECTS,REFERS AND OR TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY DEJECTS MY ¨SUGGESTIONS¨fOR i NEVER ADVISE, OR SET FOR.i SUGGEST.wE DON´T HAVE THIS WORD IN THE aRMENIAN VOCABULARLY.a PITY.iT IS COURTEOUSLY GIVE AN IDEA,TO OTHERS , OTHERS MAY TAKE OR LEAVE IT AND CANNOT SAY YOU ADVISED OR OFFERED ERRONEOUSLY…
BEST TO THOSE WHO WILL KINDLY READ MY ARTICLES IN..
http://www.armeniannews.ino top left corner in Users articles.
Tonight or tomorrow I shall complete my latest and post there..
Varaz Syuni (Amsterdam)
I have almost repatriated to Armenia only to discover that idealistic talk and bitter realities are different things, and to conclude that we Diasporan Armenians should persevere, as far as we can, wherever we are settled, especially in the Middle East. Armenia is not ready, at present at least, for Diasporan repatriation, nor do a great many Diasporans wish to immigrate to Armenia. Individual Armenians may do so on their own risk, but again they cannot change the present state of affairs.
And may I ask you the same question as Jack does: what you are doing in Amsterdam if you so much believe in repatriation?
Arshag
How nice. Sit and wait till everything is good and nice in Armenia and then you can go and enjoy Armenia. Meanwhile enjoying your “riskless” life in (pre-) Assad “free and safe” or post- Assad hardcore Salafi Syria. And daydreaming.
All my family lives in Armenia. I sacrificed a lot, so thet my family members and their children could stay in Armenia. I still do the same to non-related ones. I do not have to repatriate: I just go BACK. Working on it. Only those ones repatriate whose ‘brave and clever” (grand)parents lose their land… and themselves too.
Varaz, & News room above!!!
Arshag and a few others do not wish to graspt that there are two types of Repatriation.One , the individual one,which I partiallyu agree w/him indeed can do as they please. The other though is the Real NATIONAL REPATRIATION.
Like it was implemented by the Diaspora after WWII.
Then the Homeland was in direc need of NEW blood and plenty of compatriots in order to take the vacated placxe of over a qtr million martyred for the HAIRENAGAN BADERAZM(ACTUALLY THEY WENT TO DEFNED hUGE rUSSIAN SOVIET SPACES) iNDEED WHAT THEY DID IS PLAUSIBLE and noble…but they overdid it.,From neighbpouring republics not even a tenth of that many did so…let us forget that.The discussion on that may take us nowhere some will tell me you are anti Russian,soviet etc.,please note I have no time for that SUFFICE IT TO KNOW THAT I RESPECT ALL IDEOLOGIES AND ALL NATIONS, as much as they respect my nation´s ARMENIA and Armenians…no more no less!!!
As to Real Repatriation i do ask you to read me my lagtest post in this respect at…..www.armeniannews.info (Users Articles top left corner) under heading BUILDING NEW TOWNSHIPS…RA
Best to Haswgcoghin
Gaytzag
I think Turkish goverment must invite the Syrian Armenians to Turkey, their motherland is Anatolia.
Varaz Syuni
In whatever words you try to make it nicer for you: “I just go BACK. Working on it”, you are an immigrant, you have emigrated from your land in search of better opportunities to support your family in Armenia. So have done, and are still doing, tens of thousands of other Armenians many of whom settle in their guest land forever. And you are trying to convince Diaspora Armenians to repatriate, or may be not, because you seem now to talk deridingly about those who do repatriate: “Only those ones repatriate whose ‘brave and clever” (grand)parents lose their land…”. Frankly, I don’t get what you are trying to convey.
Gaytzak,
There are so many Armenian organizations, political, social, cultural, religious, benevolent etc, there is the independent Republic of Armenia with a strong Army and state institutions, what is then preventing them from organizing a “real national repatriation” program? Immigration at national level is not something to be organized individually. Contrary to the information you give, the repatriation in Soviet times was organized at state level with the financing of the Soviet government. Besides, there was quite a strong fervour especially among lower class Diasporan Armenians to immigrate to Armenia. At the time, the world was divided in two camps and Armenia found itself in the so-called anti-imperialist camp. Since then, the world has dramatically changed, many illusions have gone. People today, and not only Armenians, think, rightly, that they deserve to have a minimum of financial, political and judicial security. If not, they will look for other alternatives for survival than staying in their own land at any price. I am not encouraging this, but if you are looking for real solutions you have to realize that real solutions lie elsewhere and certainly not in hollow slogans.
gaytzag – I agree with you. That’s why I wrote in my above comment: “Ask some 400-500 sq. km land from Artsakh authorities: I am sure they will “borrow” it to you for even more than 99 years”.
istanbul
That was done by the Lausanne treaty but Armenians were happy in other countries Thanks anyway for your offer
Looks like here people do not read each other´s posts carefully.
I HAVE NOT SUGGESTED INDIVIDUAL REPATRIATION PROGRAMMES.
AND …
REPATRIATION OF POST WAR (1945) WAS NOT ORGANZIE D ON STATE LEVEL.BUT THE AARMENIANS OF GREECE, IRAN,EGYPT ..WHO ORGFANIZED THE NERGAGHT COMMITTEES AND PROVIDED FOR THE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR NOT ONLY TRANSPORT …BUT ALSO CLOTHING ETC.,
YOU SEE THOSE WHO LEFT IRAN(<my father was a member of the nergaght repatraition committee ) AND I DO NOT THINK IT POSSIBLE TO ASK RA TO FUND SUCH A HUGE REPATRIATION.THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN NEED OF FUNDS.IT APPEASRS THAT YOU DO NOIT READ OTHERS.ONE COMPATRIOT HERE OR ON ANOTHER THREAD GAVE DETAILS AS TO AWFULL ECONOMIC CONDITION RA IS IN WITH DEBTS PILING UP TO IMF(iNT´L MONMETARY FUND) THIS THAT OTHERS…
PLEASE GO and read ,I have tried to suggdest best possible way of organizing future REPATRIATION!!!!
Thanks for reading me in http://www.armeniannews.info (especially last post) in Users articles at top left corner….