The Challenge of Survival-Syrian/Armenian relations

April is a black month for Armenians not reminding them of the the beginning of spring but rather of the Armenian massacre at the hands of the Ottomans.Forced to flee and many killed on the way Armenians found themselves in Syria which gave them sanctuary .In Syria they settled and quickly became part of the multi ethnic Syrian fabric.

 

 Syrian researcher of Armenian origin, Leon Zaki, in his recently published book “The Challenge of Survival” (Armenians of Syria 2011-2018) speaks about Armenian affiliation  to their homeland, Syria.

 

The book deals  with an important era in the history of Syrians of Armenian origin and their presence in their homeland Syria, which they settled in , in the first century BC, contrary to what many believe that their presence in it was only the result of self preservation during  the period of the Armenian genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire against them in 1915.

 

 The writer did not overlook the monitoring of the effects of the second Armenian alienation and its repercussions due to the Syrian war and the targeting of Armenians by some parties to push them into the diaspora again, but he stressed repeatedly that their eyes remained attached to their places of residence in Syria, especially their warm embrace of Aleppo, which never left their imaginations and they will definitely return to it.

 

 The book moves skillfully between political topics that serve the subject of his book on the Syrian-Armenian, observing the political positions and initiatives that serve his purpose from the womb of the Syrian crisis, especially the role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in fueling .The writer considered moderate Islam a guarantee and an indispensable option for the survival of partners of different religions  in a  land  that has witnessed the birth of so many religions and civilizations.

 

Reem Haddad

Editor in chief