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"HOW CAN PEOPLE COME, IF THE MOTHERLAND DOESN'T WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS"
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/28/95508/
July 28, 2012 13:04
Lyudmila Sargsyan is ashamed that Syrian Armenians have lost their
faith in the Motherland
The latest developments in Syria, the future of Syrian Armenians have
caused new discussions and mutual accusations on the Armenian political
stage. Another "accusing" statement directed at the Armenian government
has been made by the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC),
different socio-political initiatives have made similar statements
too. Another opposition force, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF), seems to approve of the passive attitude of the government
toward this issue. Yesterday, during a conversation with www.aravot.am,
Lyudmila Sargsyan, a member of the ANC and the leader of the Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), said that as a result of different
kinds of pressure, they had achieved that the government, although
"late and insufficiently," had responded to that problem. You can
read Ms. Sargsyan's remarks on this issue in detail . Generally, she
assesses such an approach toward Syrian Armenians as neither more nor
less than "treachery," "The war lasting for roughly 1.5 years should
have suggested to our government that Syrian Armenians would eventually
face such a problem and it should have devised a comprehensive program
in the meantime what kind of support we could show as the Motherland. A
big part of our people who managed to flee from the Turkish yataghan
and settled down on the hospitable Syrian soil - everything was done,
in order that Armenians were able to settle down and feel themselves
full citizens. I am convinced that the steps taken by the government
of the Republic of Armenia these days are insufficient and don't
reflect the sensitive approach of the Armenian people toward Syria,
Syrian Armenians, the Syrian people. When I read the statement of
Syrian Armenians, I feel ashamed that the Republic of Armenia as
a state is at such a level that Syrian Armenians have lost their
faith in our state, our Motherland." Our interlocutor asserts that
after manifold pressure, even Armavia has met the demands to launch
a second flight, whereas the Ministry of Diaspora and the Cabinet of
the Republic of Armenia are still waiting. "They say 'come home.'
How can people come home, if the Motherland doesn't welcome them
with open arms," our interlocutor says, adding that if the state and
the Cabinet had not been able to take care of the social needs of
the newcomers, it was not a problem; their relatives living there,
citizens of the Republic of Armenia would have done that. "Syrian
Armenians have maintained neutrality for 1.5 years and the government
of the Republic of Armenia should understand that if the militants
seize the power in Syria, the Armenian community may not be forgiven
for that neutrality. This doesn't mean ruining the Armenian community,
which plays a serious role in the policy our country pursues in the
Middle East, but the man decides himself in what country he wants
to live and work. Under these conditions, when Armenia is emptying,
the government should do everything it takes, in order that the
Syrian Armenian doesn't leave for Lebanon or the US, but comes to
the Motherland," Lyudmila Sargsyan says.
There are speculations that the passive attitude of the Armenian
government toward this issue is because of the influence of the Russian
Federation, whereas the SDHP has always been for Armenian-Russian
relations. In response to this observation of Aravot, Lyudmila Sargsyan
said, "I cannot surely say that it is because of the influence of the
Russian Federation, but we are, first of all, a national party and
we are guided by the interests of our state and our nation. We wish
to be such a state, which will avoid any kind of foreign influence."
Aravot inquired also what Ms. Sargsyan thought of the ARF attitude
that the Syrian Armenian community should stay in Syria and in this
context, what she thought of the future cooperation of opposition
forces in the parliament, taking into account also the failure
regarding Harsnakar. The answer was, "There is a bunch of issues,
on which we can reach an agreement. Sometimes separate approaches are
expressed, but this is a new process, which we try to carry through.
Therefore, I will not try to criticize anyone and harm that process.
It will be clearer in the short-run, in what framework we can
cooperate." In regard to the ARF position, she said, "And I think
that if Syria becomes a secure country, the situation is normalized,
our compatriots will continue living there, because that country
has done much for them. However, it is not ours to decide. If Syrian
Armenians don't feel secure there and wish to settle down in Armenia,
they should have that possibility."
Yesterday, during a conversation with Aravot, Vazgen Mesropyan, an
Aleppo Armenian and a member of the SDHP (from Perkuperkyan faction
- N. G.) executive committee, remarked that before the latest
developments, Syrian Armenians had had problems with entry visa,
whereas thanks to the Ministry of Diaspora and Hranush Hakobyan,
the problem had been resolved, "It was a very good progress made by
the government, for which we are thankful. Now they have decided that
everyone can get double citizenship in their countries - it is good
too. Only one thing - it would be better, if they extended visa or
didn't demand payments in case of Syrian Armenians and at least at
this stage." Our interlocutor doesn't agree with political forces
that accuse the government of the Republic of Armenia of passive
attitude toward Syrian Armenians, "What should the state do, for
instance? People flee and come, but the situation in Armenia is not
that stable either, in order that, say, the government helps. How
can it be helpful, should it give apartments, one shouldn't do that
either. If the Armenian government had the possibility, it would be
a different matter, but it will be good too, if it helps only with
documents." Other details
From: A. Papazian
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/07/28/95508/
July 28, 2012 13:04
Lyudmila Sargsyan is ashamed that Syrian Armenians have lost their
faith in the Motherland
The latest developments in Syria, the future of Syrian Armenians have
caused new discussions and mutual accusations on the Armenian political
stage. Another "accusing" statement directed at the Armenian government
has been made by the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC),
different socio-political initiatives have made similar statements
too. Another opposition force, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF), seems to approve of the passive attitude of the government
toward this issue. Yesterday, during a conversation with www.aravot.am,
Lyudmila Sargsyan, a member of the ANC and the leader of the Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), said that as a result of different
kinds of pressure, they had achieved that the government, although
"late and insufficiently," had responded to that problem. You can
read Ms. Sargsyan's remarks on this issue in detail . Generally, she
assesses such an approach toward Syrian Armenians as neither more nor
less than "treachery," "The war lasting for roughly 1.5 years should
have suggested to our government that Syrian Armenians would eventually
face such a problem and it should have devised a comprehensive program
in the meantime what kind of support we could show as the Motherland. A
big part of our people who managed to flee from the Turkish yataghan
and settled down on the hospitable Syrian soil - everything was done,
in order that Armenians were able to settle down and feel themselves
full citizens. I am convinced that the steps taken by the government
of the Republic of Armenia these days are insufficient and don't
reflect the sensitive approach of the Armenian people toward Syria,
Syrian Armenians, the Syrian people. When I read the statement of
Syrian Armenians, I feel ashamed that the Republic of Armenia as
a state is at such a level that Syrian Armenians have lost their
faith in our state, our Motherland." Our interlocutor asserts that
after manifold pressure, even Armavia has met the demands to launch
a second flight, whereas the Ministry of Diaspora and the Cabinet of
the Republic of Armenia are still waiting. "They say 'come home.'
How can people come home, if the Motherland doesn't welcome them
with open arms," our interlocutor says, adding that if the state and
the Cabinet had not been able to take care of the social needs of
the newcomers, it was not a problem; their relatives living there,
citizens of the Republic of Armenia would have done that. "Syrian
Armenians have maintained neutrality for 1.5 years and the government
of the Republic of Armenia should understand that if the militants
seize the power in Syria, the Armenian community may not be forgiven
for that neutrality. This doesn't mean ruining the Armenian community,
which plays a serious role in the policy our country pursues in the
Middle East, but the man decides himself in what country he wants
to live and work. Under these conditions, when Armenia is emptying,
the government should do everything it takes, in order that the
Syrian Armenian doesn't leave for Lebanon or the US, but comes to
the Motherland," Lyudmila Sargsyan says.
There are speculations that the passive attitude of the Armenian
government toward this issue is because of the influence of the Russian
Federation, whereas the SDHP has always been for Armenian-Russian
relations. In response to this observation of Aravot, Lyudmila Sargsyan
said, "I cannot surely say that it is because of the influence of the
Russian Federation, but we are, first of all, a national party and
we are guided by the interests of our state and our nation. We wish
to be such a state, which will avoid any kind of foreign influence."
Aravot inquired also what Ms. Sargsyan thought of the ARF attitude
that the Syrian Armenian community should stay in Syria and in this
context, what she thought of the future cooperation of opposition
forces in the parliament, taking into account also the failure
regarding Harsnakar. The answer was, "There is a bunch of issues,
on which we can reach an agreement. Sometimes separate approaches are
expressed, but this is a new process, which we try to carry through.
Therefore, I will not try to criticize anyone and harm that process.
It will be clearer in the short-run, in what framework we can
cooperate." In regard to the ARF position, she said, "And I think
that if Syria becomes a secure country, the situation is normalized,
our compatriots will continue living there, because that country
has done much for them. However, it is not ours to decide. If Syrian
Armenians don't feel secure there and wish to settle down in Armenia,
they should have that possibility."
Yesterday, during a conversation with Aravot, Vazgen Mesropyan, an
Aleppo Armenian and a member of the SDHP (from Perkuperkyan faction
- N. G.) executive committee, remarked that before the latest
developments, Syrian Armenians had had problems with entry visa,
whereas thanks to the Ministry of Diaspora and Hranush Hakobyan,
the problem had been resolved, "It was a very good progress made by
the government, for which we are thankful. Now they have decided that
everyone can get double citizenship in their countries - it is good
too. Only one thing - it would be better, if they extended visa or
didn't demand payments in case of Syrian Armenians and at least at
this stage." Our interlocutor doesn't agree with political forces
that accuse the government of the Republic of Armenia of passive
attitude toward Syrian Armenians, "What should the state do, for
instance? People flee and come, but the situation in Armenia is not
that stable either, in order that, say, the government helps. How
can it be helpful, should it give apartments, one shouldn't do that
either. If the Armenian government had the possibility, it would be
a different matter, but it will be good too, if it helps only with
documents." Other details
From: A. Papazian