In the suburbs of Syrian trade-industrial center Aleppo clashes continue between the authorities and the opposition. The Armenian community is still safe.
This was reported from Aleppo to “1in.am News and Analysis” by the leader of Beria episcopate of Cilicia Catholicosate Shahan Holy Sargisyan.
He mentioned that Armenian community lives in the center of the city, whereas the clashes are in the suburbs. They are far from the clashes. But he also said that there is a worry about future.
“In several parts of Armenian community it is so safe that people live normally and go to work, but there are such parts where people do not go out of their homes and pray for the clashes to be over soon. We live with a worry that the clashes will transfer from suburbs to center and we pray for peace and agreement for everybody and pray that the center of Aleppo will remain safe. There is nothing impossible for God, and will live by this hope and will encourage people not to give in and not to live in a worry”, said Holy Shahan.
To the question whether the Syrian-Armenians do not want to come and live in Armenia, he answered that they are in a good state and have no great tendency or longing to leave Aleppo and immigrate to Armenia. He mentioned that for Syrian-Armenians, Armenia is a strange place; they don’t know what awaits them. “In Aleppo everybody has his job, his house, his church, and his children and is linked to this country as a Syrian. Surely, it is difficult to leave everything and come to Armenia. Some families have come, but the others prefer to stay here”, he elaborated.
The leader of Beria Episcopate ended his speech saying: “ May God grant peace to everybody!”
Director of ARF-D Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office, Kiro Manoyan, also says that Syrian Armenians do not wish to come to Armenia.
“It is necessary to do everything for the Armenian community to be safe and not be subjected to political persecutions in Syria. The state must help those who wish to return to Armenia temporarily and must create corresponding conditions for them”, he added.
According to him, it is impossible that the whole Armenian community leaves Syria given the crisis, like it was during the Iraqi war, because the Armenian community in Syria is quite large and strong.
According to the candidate of historical sciences, Armen Petrosyan, there is not any external interference in Syria, it is only internal armed conflict, and in this case, neutrality, which maintains the Armenian community, can have a positive role.
“The communities of Syria and Iraq should not be compared because Armenian community in Syria is quite large and strong” he added.
Armen Petrosyan also said that Armenian government should be very attentive towards the situation, and must do everything to support Syrian Armenians in solving any problem. Armenian government must coordinate its actions with political leaders of Syrian Armenians, and the most important is that every step must be taken very carefully in order not to have human losses.
Armen Petrosyan stresses that moral and psychological support is the most important one. “They should feel that we are with them”.
“Their criticism is directed at just the point, they are bringing the examples of Artsakh and the earthquake that was in Armenia, showing that Armenian Diaspora supported Armenia in every problem, but now they don’t feel the same attitude towards them”, said Armen Petrosyan.
