Armenian Diaspora in Britain and the Armenian Question
By Dr. Sedat LACINER
Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 1 2005
Introduction[1]
The Armenian diaspora in Britain is relatively small when it is
compared with those in the United States or in France. Although there
is no consensus some Armenian sources claim that the Armenian
population in Britain is about 11-19.000, mostly living in London and
Manchester.[2] The recent developments showed that the Armenian
community in Britain has influenced the British public opinion beyond
their population. As will be discussed in this study, the historical
experiment about the Armenians in Britain also shows that this is not
a new trend; for instance in the 19th century the Armenians, though
their number was less than a thousand in England, could success to
create an anti-Ottoman public opinion in this country. In this
framework, this study first explores the secrets of the Armenian
diaspora in Britain in affecting (sometimes manipulating) the British
public opinion and press.
Second, the author of this article believes that the Armenian and the
Turkish diasporas in Britain[3] can play a crucial role in solving
the Armenian problem since both should be open to dialogue, and both
diasporas are far away from the problematic territories, namely the
Caucasus. As a result of this belief the article examines the
possible contributions of the Armenian diaspora in Britain to the
possible solution of the Armenian question.
Finally, third aim of this study is explore the present situation of
the Armenians in the United Kingdom.
I. Armenian Community in Britain: People and Institutions
Today the Armenians mainly live in London and there is a small
Armenian community in Manchester. The Armenian population in London
is estimated about 7.000-12.000 although the figures are not
reliable. The London Armenians concentrate in the boroughs of Ealing,
Hounslow, Brent and Haringey. The first serious Armenian immigration
to the UK was experienced 150 years ago and the immigration continued
in the 20th century. The Armenian immigrants are mainly from the
former Ottoman Empire territories (Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Iraq),
Iran and Russia. Recent arrivals have fled because of the economic,
social and political problems from the former Soviet Union republics,
including Armenia.[4]
The early comers are relatively wealthy people and it can be argued
that now they have no serious economic problems. The most formidable
problem the Armenian community confronted is identity crisis. The
homeland cannot provide a model for the diaspora and the Armenian
identity is under the threat of the Western culture. Moreover,
because the Armenians in the United Kingdom have come from a variety
of different countries, there are different communities within the
community. An Armenian from Iraq or Lebanon, for example, might have
different cultural needs to an Armenian from the former Soviet Union
or Iran. That is why religion and the historical tragedies are used
in order to strengthen the relations among the Armenians. However,
exaggeration of the religious feelings and the historical events
cause extremism and hate against other ethnic groups. In other words,
the Armenian ethnic identity is established on the historical hatred
and hostility against the other ethnic groups notably against the
Turks by this approach. As a result of this not only the relations
between the Armenians and the other ethnic groups have been damaged,
but also the Armenians themselves have suffered from the extremism.
The Armenian youth in particular has faced pressure from their
parents and the community. The elderly Armenians want to create an
old – type Armenian youth, while the young people prefer to be a
‘normal’ part of the British society. For example, ‘instead of
celebrating the traditional Armenian Christmas on 6 January, many
young Armenians prefer to celebrate Christmas on 25 December, because
they do not want to be different from their peers’.[5] The Armenian
youth organisation RBO’s ‘ideal London’ clearly shows the social
pressure on the Armenian youth:
‘A world which exists to provide the Armenian youth of London what
truly deserve. A world not polluted with daily drubbings over
politics and religion. A world, to do the things that young people
do. You can even swear and kiss in public without the fear of being
judged by another… It’s time to be young again.'[6]
These words prove that the British Armenian youth want to be
depoliticised and to be a normal part of the British society.
Apart from the problems discussed above, the recent arrivals face the
most serious problems. Many of them have come from the former Soviet
Union and their main problems are employment, accommodation and
social adaptation. Finally, the common concern of the Armenian
community is the economic and political problems in Armenia. Some
radical groups (nationalist or revolutionary left) in particular
perceive themselves as a part of the politics in Armenia although
they live in Great Britain and they are British citizens.
Surprisingly they, with the other radical groups from the other
Armenian diasporas, influence the balance of power in Armenia. As has
been witnessed in the last presidential elections, the support of the
diaspora Armenians helped to replace the moderate previous Ter
Petrosian with the more strict and radical Kocharian. It can be
argued that the Armenian diaspora, including those in Britain,
increases tension and radicalism in the Armenian politics.
In brief, the British Armenians do want to help the homeland country,
but they do not know how to do so, and as will be discussed, they
damage the Armenian national interests by deepening the hostility
between the Armenian and the Turkish people and by increasing
radicalism in Armenia, although the Armenian Republic desperately
needs stability and it needs to improve its diplomatic, political and
economic relations with its biggest neighbour, namely Turkey.
Armenian Organisations in Britain
Social and Education Organisations: The British Armenians have three
one-day schools in Eastern and Western Armenian languages. The
Tantanian Sunday School was one of the first examples. In the 1980s,
the Armenian Saturday Language and Studies School was established.
Later the Martiza Soghnalian Armenian School was began in Kensington,
London. The Armenian Community Playgroup was founded in May 1987. The
Ealing Council, the Centre for Armenian Information and Advice (CAIA)
and the London Armenian community have financially supported the
organisation. The CAIA also runs the Armenian Community Pre-School
Group, which was established in 1987. The school provides Armenian
language courses four days a week.
The London Armenians also have their own cultural –
religious societies, youth groups, senior citizen club and ladies
committees.
The Armenian Community Centre: Opened on 27 November 1988 at
West End Road
, Middlesex. Sport facilities are impressive.
The Centre For Armenian Information and Advice (CAIA): In Acton,
West London. It was formally opened in 1986. The CAIA was funded by
the London Borough Grants Scheme. It has set up an Armenian
playgroup, Armenian language classes for adults and children. It is
compiling a telephone directory of Armenians in the Britain. The
Centre started Hayashen Community Centre project in 1994. Now it aims
to establish an Armenian – English Library in London.[7] The Armenian
broadcasts from Armenia can be watched in the centre.
Homenetmen London: London branch of Homenetmen international
organisation. Founded in 1979. Organises social and sportive events.
Furthermore it organises political events with other organisations
like its sister organisations HOM and Hamazgayeen.
RBO: Founded in 1995 by two Armenian young people. Aims to unite all
Armenian youth in London. They further want more freedom for and less
social and religious pressure on the London Armenian youth. RBO
organises parties and concerts. They have organised about 20 ‘HOKIS
events’,[8] with an average attendance of over 100 youth.
The Branches of the International Armenian Organisations In Britain:
Some European, American and Canadian Armenian organisations and
political parties also have branches in London because the capital is
one of the important, if not the most, political lobbying centres in
the world. Some of these organisations work under subsidiary
organisations to curtain their real names and aims. It is unfortunate
that most of these organisations are political and extremist. They
focus on the Armenian question and Turkish-Armenian relations rather
than concentrating on the Armenian diaspora’s social, economic and
cultural problems. Another effect of these organisations is that they
politicise the diaspora. They speak before the British public and
media in the name of the British Armenians though their
representative power is quite low.
Churches: There are two important Armenian churches in Britain: St.
Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church (Kensington, London) and Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church (Manchester). Both serves as a
cultural, social and religious centres.
Other Organisations: Some of the other important Armenian
organisations in Britain can be listed as follow;
– ACPG, Armenian Community Pre-School Group.
– Aid Armenia, Land and Culture Organisation
– Anahit Association, London.
– The Armenian National Committee.
– Armenian Rainbow Coalition (London)
– The Armenian Relief Society of Great Britain (ARS).
– The Armenian Revolutionary Federation UK (The radical political group’s UK branch).
– Armenian Rights Group.
– Barbara Melinski Fund.
– The British Armenian Community.
– Church Council.
– Committee for the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide (CRAG)
– Hamazkayin.
– Hayashen Armenian Youth Club.
– Hayastan All-Armenian Fund (Manchester).
– K. Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School.
– Manoukian Charitable Foundation.
– Organisation for the Preservation of Armenian Schools and Churches in India (London).
– Social Democratic Hunchag Party
– Tekeyan Cultural Association, London.
– Tekeyan Trust.
Press: The Tekeyan Cultural Association publishes Erobouni, a
bi-weekly Armenian – English newspaper. Gotchnag is another Armenin
publication. It is published by the Nor Seround Cultural association
affiliated with the radical Hinchak Party.
Aregak (1964-1966) and The London Monthly (1974-1976)
were two good examples for the Armenian press in the United Kingdom.
Another radical publication was Kaytzer (1978-1988) published by the
London Branch of the Union of Armenian Students. Kaytzer defended
armed struggle and terrorist methods against the Turkish diplomats to
realise its political aims, and in order to get popular support it
tried to terrorise the Armenian community in the country. For Kaytzer
the Armenians had to support all illegal Turkish, Kurdish or Armenian
groups against the Turkish state.
The Centre For Armenian Information now publishes
Armenian Voice quarterly. The Centre delivers the magazine free of
charge. Its circulation is about 3.000 copies.
Table 1.
Armenians in Britain
Manchester and North West 3000-5000
London and the South 7000-12.000
Other regions 1000-2000 (?)
Total 11-19.000
Source: Armenian Voice; Exile; The Institute for Armenian Research
II. Historical Background
Early Years
It is known that there were some Armenians in the British
Isles as early as the 7th century though they were less than ten
people. These people were a small part of the immigrants from
Caucasia who escaped from the Mongol attacks. The first political
contacts between the Armenians and English experienced during the
Crusades. In these wars, the Cilician Armenians openly supported the
occupying Christians against the local Muslims and the other peoples
of the region.[9] The letters exchanged between King Henry III and
the Armenian King Hetoum, who called for assistance when the
Crusaders were passing through Cilicia, proves this co-operation.[10]
It is also noted that the Armenian King Leo IV and King Richard
Lion-Heart met in 1191 in Cyprus and this co-operation continued in
the following years.
According to the British Orthodox Church, the first
Armenian Bishop came to Britain in 1250 after the Tartar
invasion.[11] Though we do not have reliable evidence, it is also
claimed that many Armenians settled in the Southern England, near
Plymouth during the time of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658). The
similarity between ‘Armenian’ and ‘Arminian’ raised doubt whether
these people were Armenian or not. According to the story Cromwell
was passing through the Armenian quarter and his interest were raised
by the people who lived there and called themselves ‘Armenians’. He
asked the head whether they were Royalist or Nationalist. The head
replied they obeyed the law of land, and the answer annoyed Cromwell,
and these people had to leave all their houses and returned to
Amsterdam, the Netherlands where they had come from.[12] In brief, it
is difficult to speak of a serious Armenian existence in Britain
before the 17th century. In the 17th century, the Armenian traders
became important in trade between East and West. These traders were
Christian and spoke Eastern languages, like Turkish, Arabic, Persian
and Indian, all were great advantage to them in the East-West trade.
Many Armenian traders established an extensive network of commercial
contacts in Britain, Iran and India. As a result of these economic
relations, many Armenians visited England, and some settled there.
Yet, their number was still tiny and they were far away from forming
a significant community in Britain. The Armenians in India were
crucial to English, because the English were trying to colonise
India, and the Armenians were one of the Christian minorities of
India who were very desirous to help the English against the Indians.
Apart from the political co-operation, the Armenian merchants had
come India before the English and they had trade bases in Calcutta,
India. During the 17th century the Armenian merchants became one of
the dominant traders in the route of Calcutta – Middle East – Italy
and Manchester. As a result of their service to Britain the famous
Armenian merchants were granted the status of Free Citizens of
England in 1688 by a Royal Charter.[13]
The next major Armenian settlers came from the Ottoman
territories as the Armenians dominated trade between the British and
Ottoman Empires with the Greeks. They were mainly from Ýstanbul,
Ýzmir and Selanik. The majority of them settled in London, Manchester
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