BEIRUT (Aztag)—Leaders and members of Armenian National Committee chapters of Middle East gathered in Bourdj Hammoud, Lebanon Sunday for a one-day conference, which addressed the current challenges facing Armenians in the Middle East given Turkey’s efforts to exert political influence in the region.
“At this juncture, taking into consideration the political development in the region and given Turkey’s growing penetration in the region, we decided to organize this conference in order to consult one another and discuss this issue,” said Middle East ANC director Vera Yacoubian.
Yacoubian explained that the conference’s goal was to develop a new strategy in light of Turkey’s increasing presence in the region and how that reality can impact ANC activities in the Middle East.
The ANC leader emphasized that even in Lebanon, where the Armenian community is an integral part of Lebanese society, Turkey’s recent overtures foreshadow growing challenges and obstacles for Armenian communities and ANC efforts, similar to other Middle Eastern countries.
The conference participants, which included representatives from Syria, Iran, Egypt, Kuwait and the Persian Gulf regions, discussed the pursuit of the Armenian Cause in the Arab World, where there are varying approaches and challenges. The imperative for the pursuit of Armenian issues was emphasized by all participants of the conference.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Levon Mkrtchyan was on hand to address the importance of the conference given the increasing level of Turkey’s anti-Armenian posturing and its manifestations in Turkey’s dealings with its neighboring states.
Mkrtchyan pointed to the so-called Neo-Ottomanism, which has become a driving point for Turkey’s foreign policy and the importance of that approach within the Arab World. He emphasized that, more than ever, there is a need for concrete approaches when working in the countries that have played host to Genocide survivors.
He said the Armenians of the Middle East must be able to defend its historic rights, but take into consideration the sensitivities and approaches within each country.
Turkey’s growing role, as well as its close relations with the Arab World, poses new challenges for the Armenian people. This, the conference concluded, requires a focused and committed approach to the pursuit of the Armenian Cause in this area of the world.
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Do the Muslim countries of the Middle East acknowledge our genocide? I know Lebanon does. This is something we need to work on, in addition to Israel’s not acknowledging the genocide.
John..Yes as Muslim countries we do recognize the Turkish massacre against Armenians and as a Syrian we do acknowledge the harsh time for Armin in that era but its time to start over Turkey is now different thing than 30 or 50 years ago 1919 is over.