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MEETING THE ARMENIAN MP OF IRAQI KURDISTAN
By Hamo Moskofian, Dhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, 3 November 2013
In late October we met, at the St. Nerses Shnorhali Church of Dhok*,
Iraqi Kurdistan, Yervant Aminian, the newly-elected Iraqi Kurdistan
member of parliament. We were introduced to this talented, highly
cultured, kind and young architect during our first journalistic
mission to Kurdistan. Mr Aminian had not only constructed the Armenian
church, but also the "Ararat" wedding hall, the pastor's residence,
the Armenian club, a series of building complexes for the United
Nations and the Municipality of Dhok.
Dhok (Duhok, Dohuk) Dam & Surrounding
Dhok is considered the most beautiful modern city in Iraqi Kurdistan.
It is one of the bustling modern cities of the region. Most of the
Armenians in this part of Iraqi Kurdistan are from Zakho, Hawrez and
Awzrouk. They are descendants of the 1915 Armenian Genocide survivors
who were protected by Kurdish tribal leaders Shandin Beg, Hmo Shro,
Jahangiz Agha and others.
Armenians such as Mr. Aminian and his predecessor Kurdistan MP Aram
Shahin Bakoyan have lived and prospered here since 1919. Many of them
had emigrated through the help of Levon Pasha, after the fall of
the first Armenian Republic. Many villagers re-emigrated to Soviet
Armenia in 1947, while others recently received the new Republic of
Armenia passports which they proudly carry in an area which was once
Western Armenia, Kurdistan, Assyria.
On Oct. 26, our drivers took us on a three-hour drive from
Ankawa-Erbil to Dhok to meet Mr. Aminian. We were warmly welcomed by
the parliamentarian and Mr. Vartkes Sarkisian, a scholar, lecturer
at several institutions of Kurdish language and literature.
Hovsep Ashjian, the Lebanese-Armenian tourist company founder who
was in the group, could not believe that in such a remote part of
the Middle East another Armenia exists, with such proud, friendly,
hospitable, patriotic compatriots, who can speak only Kurdish and
Arabic, understand very little of their mother tongue, but have been
the defenders of our "fortress" for decades.
Our hosts took us on a sightseeing tour of Dhok, including the old
Armenian quarter, Assyrian and Syriac churches, to mosques, Yezidi
shrines, and to the Dhok Dam and waterfall. It was noticeable that
our hosts are well known and respected by the Kurdish elite and the
military "peshmerga". They consider the Armenians their brothers
and allies.
"We always had a very strong presence in Dhok and in the region. We
are considered a talented and hard-working people, trustworthy and
courageous who played a great role in developing Kurdistan," said
Aminian over the lunch. "It's true that Kurdish-Armenian relations
during history were not always easy, but today the Democratic Party
of Kurdistan and President Masoud Barzani are doing everything to
make Armenians feel as if they are in their homeland!"
Now that he is an MP, Mr. Aminian's life will be complicated. In
addition to his duties at the parliament in Erbil, he along with
his fellow MPs from Dhok, will try to solve the problems of his
constituency and that of Armenians of Kurdistan. We wish him success
in his commitment for a better society, and in building bridges with
Armenia and the Diaspora, as he promised.
* Dhok - other variations are Duhok & Dohuk.
http://www.keghart.com/Moskofian-Dhok-Aminian
By Hamo Moskofian, Dhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, 3 November 2013
In late October we met, at the St. Nerses Shnorhali Church of Dhok*,
Iraqi Kurdistan, Yervant Aminian, the newly-elected Iraqi Kurdistan
member of parliament. We were introduced to this talented, highly
cultured, kind and young architect during our first journalistic
mission to Kurdistan. Mr Aminian had not only constructed the Armenian
church, but also the "Ararat" wedding hall, the pastor's residence,
the Armenian club, a series of building complexes for the United
Nations and the Municipality of Dhok.
Dhok (Duhok, Dohuk) Dam & Surrounding
Dhok is considered the most beautiful modern city in Iraqi Kurdistan.
It is one of the bustling modern cities of the region. Most of the
Armenians in this part of Iraqi Kurdistan are from Zakho, Hawrez and
Awzrouk. They are descendants of the 1915 Armenian Genocide survivors
who were protected by Kurdish tribal leaders Shandin Beg, Hmo Shro,
Jahangiz Agha and others.
Armenians such as Mr. Aminian and his predecessor Kurdistan MP Aram
Shahin Bakoyan have lived and prospered here since 1919. Many of them
had emigrated through the help of Levon Pasha, after the fall of
the first Armenian Republic. Many villagers re-emigrated to Soviet
Armenia in 1947, while others recently received the new Republic of
Armenia passports which they proudly carry in an area which was once
Western Armenia, Kurdistan, Assyria.
On Oct. 26, our drivers took us on a three-hour drive from
Ankawa-Erbil to Dhok to meet Mr. Aminian. We were warmly welcomed by
the parliamentarian and Mr. Vartkes Sarkisian, a scholar, lecturer
at several institutions of Kurdish language and literature.
Hovsep Ashjian, the Lebanese-Armenian tourist company founder who
was in the group, could not believe that in such a remote part of
the Middle East another Armenia exists, with such proud, friendly,
hospitable, patriotic compatriots, who can speak only Kurdish and
Arabic, understand very little of their mother tongue, but have been
the defenders of our "fortress" for decades.
Our hosts took us on a sightseeing tour of Dhok, including the old
Armenian quarter, Assyrian and Syriac churches, to mosques, Yezidi
shrines, and to the Dhok Dam and waterfall. It was noticeable that
our hosts are well known and respected by the Kurdish elite and the
military "peshmerga". They consider the Armenians their brothers
and allies.
"We always had a very strong presence in Dhok and in the region. We
are considered a talented and hard-working people, trustworthy and
courageous who played a great role in developing Kurdistan," said
Aminian over the lunch. "It's true that Kurdish-Armenian relations
during history were not always easy, but today the Democratic Party
of Kurdistan and President Masoud Barzani are doing everything to
make Armenians feel as if they are in their homeland!"
Now that he is an MP, Mr. Aminian's life will be complicated. In
addition to his duties at the parliament in Erbil, he along with
his fellow MPs from Dhok, will try to solve the problems of his
constituency and that of Armenians of Kurdistan. We wish him success
in his commitment for a better society, and in building bridges with
Armenia and the Diaspora, as he promised.
* Dhok - other variations are Duhok & Dohuk.
http://www.keghart.com/Moskofian-Dhok-Aminian