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.
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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
NELLY GRIGORYAN
