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THE SURVIVAL OF SYRIA'S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
Wednesday, September 24th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/127266/the-survival-of-syria%E2%80%99s-armenian-community/
A destroyed neighborhood in Aleppo
YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Despite numerous social and economic difficulties
caused by the war, the Armenian community of Syria continues to live
and to work. Armenpress presents an interview with editor-in-chief
of Aleppo's Gandzasar weekly Zarmik Boghikian about issues concerning
the Armenians of Syria.
ARMENPRESS: What are some issues facing the Armenian community of
Syria? What kind of difficulties have they encountered during this
period?
ZARMIK BOGHIKIAN: As part of the Syrian people, the Armenian community
has suffered the effects of anxiety over these three years. Being a
minority, we endured much more damages - in the form of destruction
of national structures, in the psychological sense, a large number
of people left Syria, we had many losses. Syrian-Armenians tried to
survive with all this. Our main task now is coming out of this war
with the least amount of loss possible, because we do not favor any
political force and have no connection with the war. From the very
beginning the Armenian community of Syria tried to back all the
efforts directing the country to democracy.
A.P.: Is there any official data on the number of victims and material
losses?
Z.B.: There are official numbers: we have had 100 victims killed up
to today and 106 kidnapped and missing people. We have 1,700 damaged
apartments and national structures. The community's population
has been reduced by 50 percent; a part of them have emigrated to
Armenia - about 12,000 people - the other part to Lebanon; and some
of them have left for the countries of Western Europe. Our wish is
that Syrian-Armenians settle in the homeland, as they can at least
preserve their national identity there.
A.P.: Can we say that the population of Armenians in Syria is 30,000?
Z.B.: With a bit of hesitation - yes, because there are no exact
numbers. In addition to external migration, internal displacement
also took place. The majority emigrated from Aleppo, as it is the
most dangerous place and people live there in difficult conditions.
A.P.: What would you say about the cultural life of the Armenian
community of Syria?
Z.B.: Our community leaders and religious leaders do everything
possible to keep our schools working. The academic year has begun
and we hope that we will go through the year with minimal harm and
will not see any more losses.
From: A. Papazian
Wednesday, September 24th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/127266/the-survival-of-syria%E2%80%99s-armenian-community/
A destroyed neighborhood in Aleppo
YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Despite numerous social and economic difficulties
caused by the war, the Armenian community of Syria continues to live
and to work. Armenpress presents an interview with editor-in-chief
of Aleppo's Gandzasar weekly Zarmik Boghikian about issues concerning
the Armenians of Syria.
ARMENPRESS: What are some issues facing the Armenian community of
Syria? What kind of difficulties have they encountered during this
period?
ZARMIK BOGHIKIAN: As part of the Syrian people, the Armenian community
has suffered the effects of anxiety over these three years. Being a
minority, we endured much more damages - in the form of destruction
of national structures, in the psychological sense, a large number
of people left Syria, we had many losses. Syrian-Armenians tried to
survive with all this. Our main task now is coming out of this war
with the least amount of loss possible, because we do not favor any
political force and have no connection with the war. From the very
beginning the Armenian community of Syria tried to back all the
efforts directing the country to democracy.
A.P.: Is there any official data on the number of victims and material
losses?
Z.B.: There are official numbers: we have had 100 victims killed up
to today and 106 kidnapped and missing people. We have 1,700 damaged
apartments and national structures. The community's population
has been reduced by 50 percent; a part of them have emigrated to
Armenia - about 12,000 people - the other part to Lebanon; and some
of them have left for the countries of Western Europe. Our wish is
that Syrian-Armenians settle in the homeland, as they can at least
preserve their national identity there.
A.P.: Can we say that the population of Armenians in Syria is 30,000?
Z.B.: With a bit of hesitation - yes, because there are no exact
numbers. In addition to external migration, internal displacement
also took place. The majority emigrated from Aleppo, as it is the
most dangerous place and people live there in difficult conditions.
A.P.: What would you say about the cultural life of the Armenian
community of Syria?
Z.B.: Our community leaders and religious leaders do everything
possible to keep our schools working. The academic year has begun
and we hope that we will go through the year with minimal harm and
will not see any more losses.
From: A. Papazian