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A NEW KIND OF GENOCIDE HAS BEEN PERPETRATED IN THE MIDDLE EAST
http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=7124
Interview of Gagik Harutyunyan to ArmInfo Information Agency
David Stepanyan
Judging by the recent wrangling in the UN Security Council and the
reaction of Iran and Israel, it seems that the Syrian conflict is
gradually passing into a new plane. In your opinion, what new impulses
around the developments in Syria can be expected in this aspect in
the nearest future?
It has been much spoken about the involvement Iran and Israel in
the Syrian conflict. They acknowledge in Tehran that Iran will
follow Syria and that is the reason why "Hezbollah", and according
to some opinions even groups connected with the "Army of Guardians
of the Islamic Revolution" are actively involved in the events in
Syria. It is natural that Syria, in its current condition, is not
very acceptable for Israel, though some experts appeal that Tel-Aviv
is not interested in overthrowing of Assad. In this case Syria might
be flooded by terrorists who will then endanger the security of Israel.
In my opinion a real threat to Israel is rather strong and united
Syria than scattered groups of terrorists, which Israelis has always
brilliantly dealt with. That is why, while speaking about outside
intervention, we have to take into consideration, that there is a
typical war in Syria and not opposition or local rebels protests.
According to the estimations of the experts and observers, the number
of the Syrian citizens in the militants units does not exceed 15-20%.
All the others are the mercenaries from Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
and other regimes in the Middle East as well as citizens of some
western countries and post-Soviet republics (e.g. Azerbaijan). All
these forces are actively supported by NATO first of all by means
of its member - Turkey. In other words it is Turkey that is fighting
against Syria and Turkish military officers were killed and captured
by the Syrian governmental troops.
There is information that occasionally Turkey tends to solve in
Syria acute "Armenian question" by destroying Armenian churches
and compelling Armenians - the descendants of those who survived
the Genocide in the Ottoman Empire - to leave hospital Syria, which
sheltered them...
Even if Turkey does not have a special plan on displacement of the
Armenians from Syria, destruction of the Armenian and in general
Christian cultural values, the fact remains that the descendents
of the Armenians who survived the Genocide perpetrated by the Turks
today are suffering from the displacement, thanks to the efforts of
that very same Turkey. Our compatriots are the bearers of the western
Armenian cultural and civilizational code. The communities in the
Middle East has had great influence in the context of preserving of
the Armeniancy, Armenian civilization, culture in the countries of
the Eastern and Western Europe, America. And now, when the members
of the Armenian communities in Syria and Middle East are actively
emigrating to Europe, North and South Americas, we are losing our
very important national segment. It should also be mentioned that
in case of implementation of a negative scenario, there will be no
place in new Syria not only for Armenians and Christians in general,
but also for the Syrian Alawis.
What is the difference between the situation in Syria and other
"Arab revolutions"?
The events in Syria should be viewed through the prism of processes,
which has been taking place in the Middle East in recent years. We
remember how in consequence of the aggression against Iraq a typical
eastern dictator Saddam Hussein who killed 5 thousand Kurds in chemical
attack was executed. Meanwhile, according to the most modest figures
more than half a million people were killed in that very Iraq after
overthrowing of Hussein and coming of the Americans. A mechanism,
by means of which Iraqis killed Iraqis, Arabs killed Arabs and more
than million people left the country, was launched. This is argued
by neither UN, nor other international organizations. And after the
American operations in Iraq there were almost no Armenians left in
the Arab part of Iraq. Some Armenians found shelter in the Iraqi
Kurdistan. Comparing situation in Iraq and Syria one can drive to
a conclusion, according to which it looks as if a new mechanism
was launched in the region; it is a new kind of Genocide when the
peoples of these countries are self-destroying each other. And this
is systematic and stable process, which happens every day against
the background of total degradation of the statehood. And in this
aspect it is very important to find those who ordered all this, due
to whom this mechanism was launched. This is new kind of Genocide,
which goes beyond all the canons and notions. In Syria governmental
troops considerably succeed in the struggle with the variegated
rebels supported by the western special services due to the Iranian,
Russian and indirectly Chinese support. But even this success cannot
stop the process of degradation of Syria as a state, because the life
is defected - according to the figures of international organization
approximately 1.2 million people left the country and the number of
victims goes beyond 80 thousand. It is even needless to speak about
the condition of the economy.
And who has, in your opinion ordered it?
Today, in my opinion it is almost impossible to point out those
who ordered it. Those times has passed. Everything is very closely
interconnected and in such issues some western countries, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia as well as transnational companies play major role. For example,
for me personally the stance of Germany, which unlike France, voted
against anti-Syrian resolution and has very reserved attitude towards
the Syrian conflict, is sympathetic. That is why it is difficult to
name one country, which ordered this far uncontrollable chaos. The
Americans are already concerned with the empowerment of Al-Qaida in
Syria. Every day the terrorist acts, which are at least equivalent
to the one in Boston, are taking place in the Middle East, thousands
of people are killed, which has to be a great tragedy for whole
world. Thus, the processes in Syria are qualitatively different from
the processes, which took place on Libya, Tunis, Egypt and even Iraq,
in which no opposing external powers, at least in an organized way,
were involved. The same Iran, Russia and China in fact come down
on the side of Assad, calling for appropriate peaceful settlement
of the Syrian conflict. And in these processes, which take place
in the proximity of the Armenia's borders, Turkey and Azerbaijan,
the organized bandit groups of which, are fighting against Syrian
governmental army, are involved.
What impact will the excessive activity of Turkey and Azerbaijan in
Syria have on the relations of Ankara and Baku with Moscow?
The involvement of Turkey in the Syrian conflict will never contribute
to the development of the Russian-Turkish relations. Today Turkey and
its closest ally - Azerbaijan, felt themselves independent actors
and afforded to send Russians out of Ghabala. In response Moscow
ceased running Baku-Novorosiysk oil pipeline, restricted military
supplies to Azerbaijan. These all proves that the relations between
Baku and Moscow tend to worsen. And these are not the relations they
had two years ago. Of course, during the visits to Moscow good words
are said, but this does not change realpolitik. All this cannot but
alert Armenia, because Turkey, filling itself a regional superpower,
in case of success in the Syrian-Iranian direction, may take any
steps. Turks are not the obeying NATO members they once used to be in
the days of the "Cold War" and today, having a strong army, they can
allow themselves acting independently. In its turn Azerbaijan feels
itself alleviated in the shade of such a patron, which is proved by
the rhetoric of official Baku.
How will this, in your opinion, influence Karabakh conflict settlement,
taking into consideration the fact that Russia still remains the main
mediator in the Karabakh conflict?
This is very complicated issue, because the answer can be searched only
in the statements of the Russian officials, e.g., Secretary General of
CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha. I don't know why but I remember the words of
President Dmitri Medvedev who advised: "don't make Russia solve all
the issues in 5 days". I believe that the ally relations with Russia
and being the CSTO member is the additional guarantee ensuring that
any aggression will meet a rebuff. This is seemed to be realized in
Baku too.
On May 20 the press-service of the Milli Majlis refuted reports spread
a day before by some pro-governmental media citing the text of a
bill "On the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan", which stipulated
for the criminal sanctions against the citizens of Azerbaijan for
cooperation with Armenia. What is, in your opinion, the reason of
such information releases?
We attentively follow such information releases (which very often
are not confirmed later) in mass media and I have a filling that
Azerbaijan is a little fevered in the aspect of the domestic policy.
The situation in their domestic policy is rather unstable. They have
many problems connected with the national minorities, religious sects,
such as Wahabees, Sunnites, and Shiites, which spread eager activity
in Azerbaijan. Real religious confrontation is unfolded there. This
all is supplemented by Ilham Aliyev overstepping all the possible
verges and ruling country for quite a long period after making
ambiguous amendments to the Constitution. This all proves that huge
means spent in Azerbaijan on the army are not a panacea from the
domestic troubles. That is the reason why Aliyev constantly needs
overstepping new and new inadmissible lines. And a proposal "to bring
criminal action against the citizens of Azerbaijan, cooperating with
any organization or institution from Armenia till the full liberation
of the occupied lands" is one of such actions. But, someone clever
advised them not to do this and it explains abandoning previously
announced repressions".
http://arminfo.am
Return Another materials of author REGNUM: NEW KIND OF GENOCIDE
IS BEING PERPETRATED IN SYRIA (from the press-conference of Gagik
Harutyunyan)[16.05.2013] ON SOME MAIN ISSUES OF INTEGRATION IN
THE CONTEXT OF A VALUE SYSTEM[29.04.2013] INTEGRATION PROCESSES
AND INFORMATION POLICY [28.02.2013] CHALLENGES TO ARMENIA
IN THE GLOBALIZING WORLD[27.12.2012] WAR IN SYRIA: PROBABLE
SCENARIOS[04.12.2012] THE EUROPEAN UNION: NEW TENDENCIES[03.07.2012]
TURKISH NUCLEAR THREAT[26.04.2012] NEW MIDDLE EAST: REALITY AND
PROSPECTS [15.03.2012] NEW STATEHOOD AND NEW CHALLENGES[20.09.2011]
REFLECTING THE EVENTS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IN THE MIRROR OF THE
GREAT GAME[18.05.2011]
http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=7124
Interview of Gagik Harutyunyan to ArmInfo Information Agency
David Stepanyan
Judging by the recent wrangling in the UN Security Council and the
reaction of Iran and Israel, it seems that the Syrian conflict is
gradually passing into a new plane. In your opinion, what new impulses
around the developments in Syria can be expected in this aspect in
the nearest future?
It has been much spoken about the involvement Iran and Israel in
the Syrian conflict. They acknowledge in Tehran that Iran will
follow Syria and that is the reason why "Hezbollah", and according
to some opinions even groups connected with the "Army of Guardians
of the Islamic Revolution" are actively involved in the events in
Syria. It is natural that Syria, in its current condition, is not
very acceptable for Israel, though some experts appeal that Tel-Aviv
is not interested in overthrowing of Assad. In this case Syria might
be flooded by terrorists who will then endanger the security of Israel.
In my opinion a real threat to Israel is rather strong and united
Syria than scattered groups of terrorists, which Israelis has always
brilliantly dealt with. That is why, while speaking about outside
intervention, we have to take into consideration, that there is a
typical war in Syria and not opposition or local rebels protests.
According to the estimations of the experts and observers, the number
of the Syrian citizens in the militants units does not exceed 15-20%.
All the others are the mercenaries from Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
and other regimes in the Middle East as well as citizens of some
western countries and post-Soviet republics (e.g. Azerbaijan). All
these forces are actively supported by NATO first of all by means
of its member - Turkey. In other words it is Turkey that is fighting
against Syria and Turkish military officers were killed and captured
by the Syrian governmental troops.
There is information that occasionally Turkey tends to solve in
Syria acute "Armenian question" by destroying Armenian churches
and compelling Armenians - the descendants of those who survived
the Genocide in the Ottoman Empire - to leave hospital Syria, which
sheltered them...
Even if Turkey does not have a special plan on displacement of the
Armenians from Syria, destruction of the Armenian and in general
Christian cultural values, the fact remains that the descendents
of the Armenians who survived the Genocide perpetrated by the Turks
today are suffering from the displacement, thanks to the efforts of
that very same Turkey. Our compatriots are the bearers of the western
Armenian cultural and civilizational code. The communities in the
Middle East has had great influence in the context of preserving of
the Armeniancy, Armenian civilization, culture in the countries of
the Eastern and Western Europe, America. And now, when the members
of the Armenian communities in Syria and Middle East are actively
emigrating to Europe, North and South Americas, we are losing our
very important national segment. It should also be mentioned that
in case of implementation of a negative scenario, there will be no
place in new Syria not only for Armenians and Christians in general,
but also for the Syrian Alawis.
What is the difference between the situation in Syria and other
"Arab revolutions"?
The events in Syria should be viewed through the prism of processes,
which has been taking place in the Middle East in recent years. We
remember how in consequence of the aggression against Iraq a typical
eastern dictator Saddam Hussein who killed 5 thousand Kurds in chemical
attack was executed. Meanwhile, according to the most modest figures
more than half a million people were killed in that very Iraq after
overthrowing of Hussein and coming of the Americans. A mechanism,
by means of which Iraqis killed Iraqis, Arabs killed Arabs and more
than million people left the country, was launched. This is argued
by neither UN, nor other international organizations. And after the
American operations in Iraq there were almost no Armenians left in
the Arab part of Iraq. Some Armenians found shelter in the Iraqi
Kurdistan. Comparing situation in Iraq and Syria one can drive to
a conclusion, according to which it looks as if a new mechanism
was launched in the region; it is a new kind of Genocide when the
peoples of these countries are self-destroying each other. And this
is systematic and stable process, which happens every day against
the background of total degradation of the statehood. And in this
aspect it is very important to find those who ordered all this, due
to whom this mechanism was launched. This is new kind of Genocide,
which goes beyond all the canons and notions. In Syria governmental
troops considerably succeed in the struggle with the variegated
rebels supported by the western special services due to the Iranian,
Russian and indirectly Chinese support. But even this success cannot
stop the process of degradation of Syria as a state, because the life
is defected - according to the figures of international organization
approximately 1.2 million people left the country and the number of
victims goes beyond 80 thousand. It is even needless to speak about
the condition of the economy.
And who has, in your opinion ordered it?
Today, in my opinion it is almost impossible to point out those
who ordered it. Those times has passed. Everything is very closely
interconnected and in such issues some western countries, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia as well as transnational companies play major role. For example,
for me personally the stance of Germany, which unlike France, voted
against anti-Syrian resolution and has very reserved attitude towards
the Syrian conflict, is sympathetic. That is why it is difficult to
name one country, which ordered this far uncontrollable chaos. The
Americans are already concerned with the empowerment of Al-Qaida in
Syria. Every day the terrorist acts, which are at least equivalent
to the one in Boston, are taking place in the Middle East, thousands
of people are killed, which has to be a great tragedy for whole
world. Thus, the processes in Syria are qualitatively different from
the processes, which took place on Libya, Tunis, Egypt and even Iraq,
in which no opposing external powers, at least in an organized way,
were involved. The same Iran, Russia and China in fact come down
on the side of Assad, calling for appropriate peaceful settlement
of the Syrian conflict. And in these processes, which take place
in the proximity of the Armenia's borders, Turkey and Azerbaijan,
the organized bandit groups of which, are fighting against Syrian
governmental army, are involved.
What impact will the excessive activity of Turkey and Azerbaijan in
Syria have on the relations of Ankara and Baku with Moscow?
The involvement of Turkey in the Syrian conflict will never contribute
to the development of the Russian-Turkish relations. Today Turkey and
its closest ally - Azerbaijan, felt themselves independent actors
and afforded to send Russians out of Ghabala. In response Moscow
ceased running Baku-Novorosiysk oil pipeline, restricted military
supplies to Azerbaijan. These all proves that the relations between
Baku and Moscow tend to worsen. And these are not the relations they
had two years ago. Of course, during the visits to Moscow good words
are said, but this does not change realpolitik. All this cannot but
alert Armenia, because Turkey, filling itself a regional superpower,
in case of success in the Syrian-Iranian direction, may take any
steps. Turks are not the obeying NATO members they once used to be in
the days of the "Cold War" and today, having a strong army, they can
allow themselves acting independently. In its turn Azerbaijan feels
itself alleviated in the shade of such a patron, which is proved by
the rhetoric of official Baku.
How will this, in your opinion, influence Karabakh conflict settlement,
taking into consideration the fact that Russia still remains the main
mediator in the Karabakh conflict?
This is very complicated issue, because the answer can be searched only
in the statements of the Russian officials, e.g., Secretary General of
CSTO Nikolai Bordyuzha. I don't know why but I remember the words of
President Dmitri Medvedev who advised: "don't make Russia solve all
the issues in 5 days". I believe that the ally relations with Russia
and being the CSTO member is the additional guarantee ensuring that
any aggression will meet a rebuff. This is seemed to be realized in
Baku too.
On May 20 the press-service of the Milli Majlis refuted reports spread
a day before by some pro-governmental media citing the text of a
bill "On the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan", which stipulated
for the criminal sanctions against the citizens of Azerbaijan for
cooperation with Armenia. What is, in your opinion, the reason of
such information releases?
We attentively follow such information releases (which very often
are not confirmed later) in mass media and I have a filling that
Azerbaijan is a little fevered in the aspect of the domestic policy.
The situation in their domestic policy is rather unstable. They have
many problems connected with the national minorities, religious sects,
such as Wahabees, Sunnites, and Shiites, which spread eager activity
in Azerbaijan. Real religious confrontation is unfolded there. This
all is supplemented by Ilham Aliyev overstepping all the possible
verges and ruling country for quite a long period after making
ambiguous amendments to the Constitution. This all proves that huge
means spent in Azerbaijan on the army are not a panacea from the
domestic troubles. That is the reason why Aliyev constantly needs
overstepping new and new inadmissible lines. And a proposal "to bring
criminal action against the citizens of Azerbaijan, cooperating with
any organization or institution from Armenia till the full liberation
of the occupied lands" is one of such actions. But, someone clever
advised them not to do this and it explains abandoning previously
announced repressions".
http://arminfo.am
Return Another materials of author REGNUM: NEW KIND OF GENOCIDE
IS BEING PERPETRATED IN SYRIA (from the press-conference of Gagik
Harutyunyan)[16.05.2013] ON SOME MAIN ISSUES OF INTEGRATION IN
THE CONTEXT OF A VALUE SYSTEM[29.04.2013] INTEGRATION PROCESSES
AND INFORMATION POLICY [28.02.2013] CHALLENGES TO ARMENIA
IN THE GLOBALIZING WORLD[27.12.2012] WAR IN SYRIA: PROBABLE
SCENARIOS[04.12.2012] THE EUROPEAN UNION: NEW TENDENCIES[03.07.2012]
TURKISH NUCLEAR THREAT[26.04.2012] NEW MIDDLE EAST: REALITY AND
PROSPECTS [15.03.2012] NEW STATEHOOD AND NEW CHALLENGES[20.09.2011]
REFLECTING THE EVENTS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IN THE MIRROR OF THE
GREAT GAME[18.05.2011]