Armenian history has been a procession of losses; loss of
territory, loss of leadership, loss of blood and loss of population. If
Armenians were left in their historic homeland, they would now have numbered at
least 20 million, like the Kurds who — despite all repressions — were not
eradicated from their habitat. Therefore, any new loss of life needs to
rightfully alarm Armenian communities worldwide.
We cannot afford any more losses than we have sustained
thus far. Mass acculturation and alienation from identity are already taking
their toll.
Armenians who still have the blood of their ancestors in
their veins were alarmed when calamity befell the Syrian-Armenian community,
one of the oldest diaspora communities upholding its traditions, culture and
language. The 60,000-strong Armenian community is mostly concentrated in
Aleppo. Smaller communities are scattered in the capital city of Damascus,
Kessab, Latakia and Kamishli.
Aleppo was the closest major city to Der Zor; thus
Armenians who survived their march through the desert first settled there, and
they were received with open arms by the indigenous population. They became
law-abiding and creative citizens, contributing tremendously to the local
industry, economy and technology. They were afforded a comfortable and peaceful
life, contrary to the demonization and brainwashing in the Western press.
The transplanted opposition today is blaming Armenians
for sitting on the fence or supporting outright the Assad regime, which has
been extremely beneficial to the Armenians and the minorities in general.
Robert Fisk, the Middle East correspondent of the daily
Independent in London, recently wrote in one of his columns that it is ironic
for the West to trust the Emirate of Qatar or Saudi Arabia, both backward and
medieval potentates, to bring democracy to Syria.
This is a broad political game, played under the guise of
“the Arab awakening,” or “democracy” movement to keep all the Arab coun- tries
in turmoil so that they would not be able to confront Israel. The US has
nothing to gain; in fact, it has too much to lose by antago- nizing a whole
region, and the US taxpayer is already paying through his nose at the gas pump.
Turkey, which has assumed the role of regional power, is
the major villain in this political game. Recently, Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu bragged about his country’s new role and invited the warring
parties in the region to resolve their conflicts through Turkish mediation. He
specifically addressed the Syrian and
Karabagh crises. This level of “benevolent” interest by
Turkey is iron- ic, especially since Turkey has been meddling in both crises.
It has blockaded Armenia in lockstep with Baku and trained the Azeri army to
spill Armenian blood. Ankara is also the instigator of the Syrian problem,
arming and sending mercenaries to pretend to the world that local people have
risen against the regime seeking democ- racy. Thus, Turkey has been creating
the problems and then inviting cynically the warring parties to make peace
through its good offices.
Those intent on toppling the regime in Syria have little
concern about what may happen to the Armenian community there. On the contrary,
Ankara has an added incentive in Syria to see the decimation of a burgeoning
Armenian community there, before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the worldwide
Armenian com- munity to get organized and help the Armenians in Syria to stay
where they are, if possible, or shelter them wherever they move around the
world.
Fortunately, the response so far has been healthy and
over- whelming. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Catholicos Aram I of
Cilicia not only have come up with supportive messages, but they also have
taken concrete measures to help out the refugees.
The Armenian government has come up with bold measures to
take the Armenians under its wing — whether they stay in Syria or wish to move
permanently or temporarily to Armenia.
While the Armenian government cautiously participates in
the world politics imposed on Syria, in the meantime it has quietly but
steadily been bringing children from Syria to Armenia and helping the families
which are already in Armenia by providing accommoda- tion, jobs, medical help
and education, contrary to what the nay-say- ers are publicizing.
The AGBU has announced releasing $1 million in relief
assistance and promising to house the refugees in the Melkonian Educational
Institute’s facilities in Cyprus, should the deteriorating situation warrant
it.
The AGBU has again assumed its traditional role reaching
out in a meaningful way, when urgent need arises.
Joint committees have been formed on the US West Coast
and elsewhere to address the Syrian crisis.
This spontaneous response is certainly laudable, but
disparate actions can prove to be wasteful. Rather than collectively coordinat-
ing the humanitarian and political support, it looks like traditional Armenian
rivalries are in place to demonstrate which entity outdid the other entities.
The Syrian-Armenian community is bleeding and it deserves
all the help it can get; in the process, the need may teach us to be uni- fied
and more organized demonstrating true leadership.
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