ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SYRIA PLAYS PROMINENT ROLE IN LIFE OF COUNTRY,
ARAB TRIBE LEADERS POINT OUT

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The 12 tribe leaders from the
north-eastern Syrian region of Al Jazzira have had meetings in Armenia
with the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence,
Agriculture, Health, Labor and Social Security, with representatives
of the National Assembly factions, as well as with students of the
Oriental Science Department of Yerevan State University. At the April
1 meeting with reporters, they stated that before returning to Syria
on April 3, the sheikhs will meet with Syrian students currentlly
studying in Yerevan, visit the town of Abovian with a large number of
repatriates from Syria, as well as Holy Echmiadzin where they will be
received by Catholicos. According to the head of the delegation of the
Beria diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Zhirayr Reisian, the
purpose of this visit organized at the initiative of the Armenian
community of Aleppo is to pay homage once again to the leaders of the
tribes that provided shelter to the Armenians who had survived the
genocide and reached the Syrian land, and to give them an opportunity
to become acquainted with Armenia and the Armenian people. Sheikh of
Bagard El Jabal tribe Abdul Suahab Isa Suleiman noted that the
Armenian community of Syria plays a prominent role in the country’s
social, economic and political life, with the Armenian deputies always
being included in the Syrian parliament. Sheikh of Harb tribe Hasan
Ubeit Al Khalil called on all the states and international
organizations to reconsider their approach to the Armenian genocide
and to meet the just demands of the Armenian people. According to
Sheikh Nauaf Al Bashir, two peoples in the Middle East were the
victims of the genocides – Armenians and Jews. The Armenians continue
to express their gratitude to the Arab people even now – 90 years
after the genocide, whereas Zionists repay good with violence. He
expressed hope that the Armenian people who has a long history and is
gifted with creative abilities will reconstruct its Homeland in a
short period of time and achieve well-being and prosperity.