Doctor of Political Sciences Armen Ayvazyan wrote on his Facebook page: in 2006 I was invited to Syria in the spring. I gave a series of lectures in Aleppo, Damascus, Qamishli and Kessab. My main point was about repatriation, organized immigration to Armenia. I reasoned that the situation in the Middle East will not be settled in the foreseeable future due to the activation of Islamists and the destructive actions of Turkey and Israel.
Most of the Armenians were not ready to hear and understand what I said. Living in Syria, people had a very bad idea of the growing dangers, because, after all, they were not experts in international and regional security issues. In general, the majority of Armenians listen attentively only to the rich or the authorities, who are also not experts in these matters.
It is true that they were a little confused and surprised by my words, but that was not enough. after all, some young scientist, who has neither a position nor much money, came from Yerevan and gives them lessons about the Middle East. The most important thing was that the community leadership was against the repatriation plan. The church was also against it. Both for obvious reasons, because they would lose their social support, position and weight.
If the same thing had been said by the official representative of the Armenian state, for example, the ambassador or a high-ranking official from Yerevan, then they would have been much more attentive. But, unfortunately, the state of Armenia was silent. I returned to Yerevan and gave several speeches about the need to organize the immigration of Armenians from Syria and Lebanon, including one interview-article in "Golos Armenii" with Aris Ghazinyan, one interview with Lilit Avagyan, one interview with Hasmik Gulakyan, etc. There was an opportunity to express my same concerns to RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
He understood the problem and briefly said in a speech that our compatriots will be received with love in Armenia. That short-sighted expression was enough for Catholicos Aram I of Antilias in 2006. in July (if my memory serves me correctly, I think on July 8) he made an incredible appeal in Beirut's "Zartonk" newspaper, according to which the calls to immigrate to Armenia are, I quote, "dangerous and harmful".
The ARF was also against the immigration of Syrian Armenians, including its Yerevan organization and especially the office of Armenian Dat. In 2011, when the civil war started in Syria, I again gave a series of speeches with the same urge to organize the repatriation of Syrian Armenians. I remember at least my first and last interview with Derenik Malkhasyan in "Civilnet". And again, the same oppositionists argued that Armenians should stay in Syria.
However, yesterday the RA consul in Aleppo returned to Armenia together with the soldiers and doctors of the Armenian peacekeeping mission without informing the community. At least half of Aleppo has passed to Turkish forces.
Most of the Armenians were not ready to hear and understand what I said. Living in Syria, people had a very bad idea of the growing dangers, because, after all, they were not experts in international and regional security issues. In general, the majority of Armenians listen attentively only to the rich or the authorities, who are also not experts in these matters.
It is true that they were a little confused and surprised by my words, but that was not enough. after all, some young scientist, who has neither a position nor much money, came from Yerevan and gives them lessons about the Middle East. The most important thing was that the community leadership was against the repatriation plan. The church was also against it. Both for obvious reasons, because they would lose their social support, position and weight.
If the same thing had been said by the official representative of the Armenian state, for example, the ambassador or a high-ranking official from Yerevan, then they would have been much more attentive. But, unfortunately, the state of Armenia was silent. I returned to Yerevan and gave several speeches about the need to organize the immigration of Armenians from Syria and Lebanon, including one interview-article in "Golos Armenii" with Aris Ghazinyan, one interview with Lilit Avagyan, one interview with Hasmik Gulakyan, etc. There was an opportunity to express my same concerns to RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
He understood the problem and briefly said in a speech that our compatriots will be received with love in Armenia. That short-sighted expression was enough for Catholicos Aram I of Antilias in 2006. in July (if my memory serves me correctly, I think on July 8) he made an incredible appeal in Beirut's "Zartonk" newspaper, according to which the calls to immigrate to Armenia are, I quote, "dangerous and harmful".
The ARF was also against the immigration of Syrian Armenians, including its Yerevan organization and especially the office of Armenian Dat. In 2011, when the civil war started in Syria, I again gave a series of speeches with the same urge to organize the repatriation of Syrian Armenians. I remember at least my first and last interview with Derenik Malkhasyan in "Civilnet". And again, the same oppositionists argued that Armenians should stay in Syria.
However, yesterday the RA consul in Aleppo returned to Armenia together with the soldiers and doctors of the Armenian peacekeeping mission without informing the community. At least half of Aleppo has passed to Turkish forces.
According to some reports, the Armenians of Aleppo are locked in their homes and do not know what to do... Their fate is in great danger...
Who will answer for the current dire situation of Syrian Armenians? Or should we not look for culprits again?
