{"id":27171,"date":"2015-10-11T01:47:33","date_gmt":"2015-10-10T23:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/norkhosq.net\/?p=27171"},"modified":"2015-10-11T01:47:33","modified_gmt":"2015-10-10T23:47:33","slug":"egyptian-bassma-tv-focuses-on-armenian-egyptian-relations-armenian-cause-artsakh-plight-of-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norkhosq.net\/?p=27171","title":{"rendered":"Egyptian Bassma TV Focuses on Armenian-Egyptian Relations, Armenian Cause, Artsakh, Plight of Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"BY APPO JABARIAN<\/strong>
\nExecutive Publisher & Managing Editor
\nUSA Armenian Life Magazine<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

PART II (continued from last week)<\/em><\/p>\n

Recently, Egyptian Coptic Satellite Bassma TV held an interview with me in their studio in Orange County, California.<\/p>\n

Part I of my article on the TV program was published in last week\u2019s issue of USA Armenian Life Magazine and other news portals.<\/p>\n

The below link features the entire TV show. <\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?t=4&v=sT06D7YFSd4<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition to a host of other issues, Mr. Matta and I also discussed Turkey\u2019s animosity toward Egypt; Political developments connected with Turkey\u2019s support of foreign terrorists (ISIS and Jabhat-Al-Nusra) in Syria and Iraq; and of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Then we talked about the Armenian Cause; as well as Christians\u2019, Muslims\u2019 and Kurds\u2019 plight In Syria, Iraq and Turkey. I highlighted the current makeup of the ethnically very diverse population in Turkey, including millions of hidden Armenians, Greeks, Arabs, Jews, Assyrians, Alevis and other minority peoples.<\/p>\n

Below is the second and final installment featuring a set of interesting questions.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 The Armenian people and Armenia presented their case to the entire world and demanded from the world to recognize the Genocide that took place. Approximately what is the number of nations that recognize the genocide?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Before 2014 there were 26 nations that officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. In the last two years the following nations joined those that recognize the genocide: Bolivia in 2014, Austria (2015), Brazil (2015), Bulgaria (2015), Czech Republic (2015), Germany (2015), Luxembourg (2015), Syria (2015). Of course United States is among the 26 original nations that officially recognized the genocide. Within the United States there are 43 states that individually and officially recognize the genocide in addition to the U.S. federal government that officially recognized the genocide in a 1951 U.S. official document submitted to the International Court of Justice.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 But up until today, the rest of the nations are very delinquent in recognizing the Armenian Genocide.\u00a0 Do you think they are thinking of recognizing it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 They shouldn\u2019t be late in their recognition not just to help Armenians heal (their wounds) but also help themselves by stating their official and determined position that they are against the notion of genocide.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Obviously so, because they would be rendering service to humanity so that no other nation repeats similar crime that happened with other nations. That\u2019s why they should reject the idea of genocide.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 All nations should recognize all genocides! Not just Armenian Genocide but all genocides! So long as there are nations that don\u2019t\u2019 recognize the Armenian Genocide, they give a renewed opportunity to genocidal Turkish leaders to commit another genocide that they are attempting to commit today under ISIS\u2019 cover in Iraq and Syria as well as in Kurdistan and the Kurdish region of what is now called Turkey! \u2026 I always say \u201cwhat is now called Turkey.\u201d The meaning is that now temporarily it is called \u201cTurkey.\u201d The right-sized Turkey has a land mass that is far smaller than what it is today. Eastern Turkey is Turkish-occupied Western Armenia. The lands in southeast and southwest \u2026 are Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian \u2013 Armenians hailing from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia; and the Alexandretta (Iskenderun, Antioch \u2013 now called Hatay) region belongs to Syria! Additionally, on the Black Sea coast, we have Greek regions like Pontus; and on the Mediterranean Sea\u2019s eastern basin Constantinople which is now called Istanbul and Izmir \u2014 historically known as Smyrna are also Greek lands.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 And Northern Cyprus\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Yes, Northern Cyprus is occupied by Turkey. \u2026 Even a major segment of the people who are currently living in Turkey \u2013 I didn\u2019t say the Turkish people. I said the people living in Turkey \u2014 are not Turks.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 It\u2019s nice that you\u2019re specifying and defining.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 The majority of the people living in Turkey \u2013 nearly 70%, are non-Turks. They are living under the cover of Turkish identity but in reality, they\u2019re hiding their true identity out of fear. According to reliable information, there are between 20 and 25 million Kurds; between 2 and 5 million Armenians; between 3 and 5 million Greeks as well as millions of other minorities like Arabs, Jews, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Yezidis, and between 15 and 16 million Alevis. \u2026<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 These are great details. Thank you. What are the most recent developments relating to Armenian Cause? Why are there still nations that have not recognized Armenian Genocide? Is it because they have special affinity for Turkey, or they have economic interests?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 They may have economic interests and Turkey always threatens them that if they recognize they will cut off economic ties. But these (blackmailed) nations need to learn from the rest of the countries that have (courageously) recognized \u2013 especially countries in Europe, North and South Americas\u2026<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 All the countries that have recognized.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 For example, Turkey threatened France on a number of occasions. France still recognized. Turkey threatened Germany (their longtime allies). But Germany didn\u2019t care. They showed similar behavior toward Austria. Austria remained determined and recognized. I think time will come when many more nations will join the nations that have officially recognized the genocide.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Honestly, it\u2019s essential!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Recognition of Armenian Genocide and \u2014 for that matter all genocides, creates the grounds for discontinuation of genocidal policy at the hands of any evil forces. Today, this genocidal policy is continuing under another form by the same type of Turkish leadership that committed genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and today, they are continuing these policies against the Kurdish people.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Sadly so! \u2026 Armenians of the world are demanding the return of their lands that were usurped by Turkey. Do you think that these demands will persist indefinitely, or there is some hope that someday justice will materialize?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 The most important is that we, as descendants of orphaned survivors of Armenian Genocide, maintain our determination and faith that Justice will emerge victorious against evil \u2014 although it may take time. For example, from political point of view, in the 1970\u2019s when a segment of the world Armenian population talked about the possibility that Armenia may gain independence from the Soviet Union, another segment wouldn\u2019t believe so. Who knew in late 1970\u2019s that Soviet Union would collapse in late 1980\u2019s!<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Or the Berlin wall would be destroyed!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 That\u2019s the reason why one should keep his faith strong and struggle like a lion and a tiger!<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Bravo! It\u2019s commendable! I salute your spirit. I am privileged to be in the company of a great Armenian. \u2026 Vladimir Lenin and later, despotic Stalin carved Nagorno Karabakh region out of Armenia and gave it to Azerbaijan. Can you tell us about what happened? Can you shed light on the issue?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Nagorno Karabakh region, originally called Artsakh, is located just east of contemporary Armenia and is one of two Armenian regions \u2013 Nakhitchevan and Artsakh (Karabakh) that were carved out of (1918-1920) Armenia by (Soviet dictator) Joseph Stalin and were \u2018gifted\u2019 to then artificially formed republic of Azerbaijan in 1921. Before that era there was no such republic of Azerbaijan. They manufactured it and they \u2018gifted\u2019 them the two Armenian regions. I have written several commentaries about how these Armenian regions were \u201cStalinized\u201d creating the term \u201cStalinization of Armenian territories.\u201d Once Armenians liberated Artsakh Armenian territories (in the 1988-94 war) from Azerbaijan, I started referring to the process as \u201cDestalinization of Armenian territories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Now we\u2019re showing to the TV viewers a monument depicting a man and a woman in Karabagh. Can you explain the meaning?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 This monument represents the spirit of family unit in Karabakh-Artsakh illustrating the fact that Armenians believe in the sanctity of family. Family is very important \u2013 the monument shows that there is a strong alliance between a father and a mother forming a strong and perpetual family guided with a resilient spirit.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Beautiful!\u00a0 Very beautiful! \u2026 So what\u2019s the current state of affairs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 In mid 1994, a cease fire has been implemented. \u2026 On every occasion Azerbaijan creates problems in order to start a new war. I urge the international community to warn Azerbaijan against instigation of war. If war breaks out, it\u2019s going to be an all-out military confrontation, and there are going to be great losses from both sides. \u2026 I would like to thank Congressman Ed Royce\u00a0 (R-CA 39th District) from Orange County and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY 16th District) for initiating a congressional resolution demanding that Azerbaijan abstain from hurling war threats; and to stop bullying by wielding the threat of war against Armenia. In any case, if there is going to be war\u2026 and if Armenian people are forced to fight another war, they will fight one more time!<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Approximately, how many Armenians are living in Nagorno Karabakh-Artsakh?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Approximately 200,000. The area of Armenia beside Karabakh-Artsakh is 29,000 sq. km. And the area of Karabakh-Artsakh is nearly 9,000 sq. km. \u2026 I have been to Artsakh on several occasions. Many visitors from Europe describe Artsakh as \u201cThe Switzerland of Caucasus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 When talking about Armenia and Armenians, one cannot ignore the Armenian Church. Can you tell us a bit about the Armenian Church?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Armenian Church is Orthodox Apostolic which was founded during the early stages of Christianity. Christianity was officially adopted as a state religion in Armenia in 301 A.D.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Armenia became the first nation in the world that adopted Christianity as its state religion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 I am very joyful that the relations between the Coptic and Ethiopian churches are centuries-old, very deep and strong. The ties are also strong with Assyrian, Greek, Russian and Serbian churches \u2026<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 And Eritrean \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

abarian:\u00a0 Correct. They all come from the same tree of religion.<\/p>\n

As we were speaking, a short video documentary presented Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II\u2019s historic April 24, 2015 visit to Armenia on the occasion of Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration.<\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 I must acknowledge that Egypt had the largest official delegation among all international delegations that went to Armenia on the occasion of Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration. According to reliable information there were between 140 and 150 members in the delegation. I would like to join many world Armenians expressing appreciation to the Egyptian people.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 Armenia is a democracy where people elect the president once every five years \u2026 and members of the parliament. There are 131 seats in the Armenian parliament. And there are 13 counties. How do Diaspora Armenians carry out their democratic duties in Armenia?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 Diaspora Armenians endeavor to assist Armenia economically and politically as well as technologically. It\u2019s important for us that Armenia continues being a model state in the Caucasus region in terms of democracy and civil society. It\u2019s great that the Armenian Constitution defends the rights of its citizens vis-\u00e0-vis the government, whereas in Turkey, the Turkish Constitution defends the government against own citizens.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 It\u2019s awesome that Armenian citizens as well as Diaspora Armenians protect their national dignity. And in all countries where there are Armenians, Armenian people have left their imprints. Many have achieved remarkable success. Because of their compatibility, Armenians became well-integrated with the societies in which they live and that\u2019s very impressive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabarian:\u00a0 The host societies where Armenians live are also good-hearted people. Like the saying goes, \u201cThe beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.\u201d If one doesn\u2019t have a good heart, cannot love others. The host societies are good-hearted communities. That\u2019s why they love Armenians and they support them in all aspects of life.<\/p>\n

Matta:\u00a0 That\u2019s beautiful!<\/strong><\/p>\n

In culmination of the program, Mr. Matta presented a video on Armenian children singing Armenia\u2019s national anthem.<\/p>\n

In closing, he saluted Armenians\u2019 will to survive as a nation, focusing on Armenia, Armenians and Armenians\u2019 contributions to world civilizations including that of Egypt.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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