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  • Christians Will Leave With Americans

    Christians Will Leave With Americans

    Igor Muradyan

    Story from Lragir.am News:
    http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26842.html

    Published: 14:54:25 - 13/07/2012

    The Christians of the Near East may have played a big, maybe even a
    crucial role in the liberation of Arabs from the Ottoman empire, and
    later in the struggle against the European colonists. The Christians
    had an important role even in the Palestine movement. The Christians
    fulfilled political, social, cultural and professional functions in
    Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine.

    In the past decade not only the number but also the functions of the
    Christians shrank. The Western great powers have offered closer
    political cooperation with the Christians in the region which,
    according to the intellectuals of the Christian communities, would
    make them hostages, and it would end up in a disaster. Besides, among
    the Christians of the region not only rightist and conservative but
    also leftist moods and orientation are observed which did not
    facilitate formation of a pro-West `fifth column'.

    Russia has always refrained from close relations with the Christian
    communities of the Near East because viewed them as companions of the
    Western interests and preferred to cooperate with leftist (or rather
    pro-leftist) Muslim movements and groups. Now Russia is trying to
    treat the Christians, including Catholics of Lebanon and Syria more
    attentively. In the autumn of 2011 the patriarch of the Russian
    Orthodox Church visited Lebanon and Syria but time has passed, and the
    meaning of these intentions is questioned.

    In Moscow hardly any politician or understanding of the importance of
    cooperation with the Christian communities of the Near East for the
    Russian policy is found. Earlier Iran tried to view some Christian
    communities as possible partners but only the orthodox ones, which was
    not successful. Nevertheless, the Shia movements and communities were
    able to cooperate closely with the Christian communities of Lebanon,
    which has an essential political importance for the country.

    Now it is clear that despite the absence of a visible disaster the
    Christian communities will have to leave the region. Some rightist
    Christian activists of Lebanon say after the removal of the regime of
    Alavis in Syria the Christians will live better, and they will get
    real social and political rights. In fact, they do not give any
    forceful argument. The problem is aggravated because the political
    situation in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt is becoming irreversible, which
    will affect the Christians who are already having hard times.

    It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the United States,
    the EU and the leading European states pay no attention to the state
    of the Christians of Syria and Iraq and simply ignore the future of
    these communities. The multi-million Christian community of Egypt also
    receives little attention. Vatican does not participate in the destiny
    of the Near East. In this meaning, the attitude of the West can be
    explained by the lack of interest of Catholic and Protestant states in
    the destiny of the Orthodox communities which is not something new.

    However, the cause of indifference is the interest of the Western
    community in the move of Christians from the Near East because that
    would ensure more `free' horizons for political maneuvers in the
    region. The Christian communities are indeed hostages and the West
    resolves this issue in a `humanitarian' and `noble' manner, `clearing'
    the region of them. The United States has created a structure headed
    by a vibrant lady who deals with this issue. But what change has this
    lady brought?

    This is the Anglo-American policy on Christians in the region.
    However, there is only an interim scenario. In a far-reaching
    perspective, the United States and the United Kingdom have made a
    decision on a strategic movement, they do not want to leave an
    unresolved problem in the region to which they would have to come back
    in future.

    France which has relied on the Near East's Catholic (Uniat)
    communities understands that by `leaving' it will lose its presence in
    the region. France is conducting a policy of protection of rights of
    Christian minorities, pushing an important bill through the
    parliament, the decision of the government has been analyzed
    thoroughly. But will France be able to stop the process alone, or even
    with some support from the EU?

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