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Kessab Commander: Armenians Cannot Be Destroyed Unless They Commit S

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  • Kessab Commander: Armenians Cannot Be Destroyed Unless They Commit S

    KESSAB COMMANDER: ARMENIANS CANNOT BE DESTROYED UNLESS THEY COMMIT SUICIDE

    Lragir.am
    Interview - Wednesday, 23 April 2014, 11:19

    Architect Hakob Peterjikyan of Kessab is one of those people who are
    volunteered to join volunteers to liberate Kessab. Peterjikyan held
    an interview with Veratsnund newspaper.

    Mr. Peterjikyan, some forces and politicians claim that Armenians
    should keep neutral in regard to Kessab and generally Syria. What is
    your opinion?

    I will answer your question with a question. We were peacefully living
    in our houses, since the rallies in Syria 2011 we were busy with our
    everyday chores, we worked the land, even the families of opposition
    worked for us. And one month ago the opposition came and took our land,
    the people of Kessab were evacuated to Latakia, a young man of Kessab
    was killed. Now the Syrian army has come and wants to return Kessab
    to us. Now tell me whether neutrality is right.

    In 1938 Iskenderun was annexed by Turkey. Kessab was part of
    it. The people of Musaler were transported free of charge. A place
    was provided for the people of Kessab in the south of Lebanon. The
    Armenian catholic patriarch, Cardinal Grigor Petros Aghajanyan
    (of Akhaltskha), a charismatic personality, was able to influence
    Vatican and France and in 16 months Kessab united with Syria. In 1996
    Aghajanyan's 100thanniversary was marked. We built a monument to the
    memory of this person.

    And one month ago the opposition displaced us from our homes, those
    left in Kessab were sent to Vakifli (an Armenian village in Turkey).

    Now tell me what this is if not a Turkish plan. We didn't have any
    problems with any force in Syria except the forces which promote the
    Turkish policy in Syria. We have a serious problem with those forces.

    People of all the regions of Syria have houses and land in Kessab. And
    we have warm relations with all of them. Whether we want it or not,
    though we have an Armenian background, we are citizens of Syria and
    the Syrian state has done a lot of favors to us. So how can I be
    neutral and what does neutrality mean in this case?

    What do the supporters of neutrality fear?

    They are afraid that our self-defense will harm Armenians living in
    Aleppo, Damask or Deir ez-Zor. No Armenians are left in Deir ez-Zor.

    Armenian refugees move to regions controlled by the government. The
    opposition lives according to the wild Ashiret rules, there is a lot
    of evidence how they crucify Christians, what ravage they commit.

    There is a big issue of freedom of belief in the regions that have
    appeared under their control. We sing military songs during our
    weddings but we say keep away from the gun, keep neutral when it is
    time to fight.

    Are there fears that after liberation Kessab may again appear under
    the control of insurgents?

    There are regions in Syria that were liberated and then again appeared
    under the control of the insurgents. It is difficult to keep Kessab
    but it is possible. If the Armenians and other peoples living in Kessab
    agree to keep Kessab, it will be easy. Turkey's role is important too,
    which must close its border and refrain from use of firearms.

    What was your attitude to the calls of the Armenian government and
    the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party to keep neutrality?

    I don't want to insult them, it is possible that they deal with
    politics more seriously and have more serious information. They used
    to say about the Diaspora that people living in expensive houses
    and eating oranges should not be the one who decide the destiny of
    Armenia. I regret now that people living in luxurious mansions in
    Armenia are trying to decide the destiny of Armenians. If you cannot
    help, don't hinder either. The Armenians of Kessab decide the destiny
    of Kessab.

    What was your emotion when a group of former commanders of the Karabakh
    war headed by Vahan Badasyan visited you? Are they able to help you?

    We welcomed Vahan's group with great joy. He took me 30 years back, to
    the years when I was a student. Everyone wants to live among civilized
    people. You can create that civilization with your identity. However,
    as soon as you separate from land, you lose your national identity.

    The Sahara Desert has a lot of sand but Egypt has to import sand for
    concrete, the desert sand is not good for concrete. It turns out that
    we receive sand from Karabakh to make concrete. The Armenian people
    cannot be destroyed unless it commits suicide.

    - See more at:
    http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/32317#sthash.VFaAT3Fr.dpuf

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