Christians Will Leave With Americans

Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 14:54:25 – 13/07/2012

The Christians of the Near East may have played a big, maybe even a
crucial role in the liberation of Arabs from the Ottoman empire, and
later in the struggle against the European colonists. The Christians
had an important role even in the Palestine movement. The Christians
fulfilled political, social, cultural and professional functions in
Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine.

In the past decade not only the number but also the functions of the
Christians shrank. The Western great powers have offered closer
political cooperation with the Christians in the region which,
according to the intellectuals of the Christian communities, would
make them hostages, and it would end up in a disaster. Besides, among
the Christians of the region not only rightist and conservative but
also leftist moods and orientation are observed which did not
facilitate formation of a pro-West `fifth column’.

Russia has always refrained from close relations with the Christian
communities of the Near East because viewed them as companions of the
Western interests and preferred to cooperate with leftist (or rather
pro-leftist) Muslim movements and groups. Now Russia is trying to
treat the Christians, including Catholics of Lebanon and Syria more
attentively. In the autumn of 2011 the patriarch of the Russian
Orthodox Church visited Lebanon and Syria but time has passed, and the
meaning of these intentions is questioned.

In Moscow hardly any politician or understanding of the importance of
cooperation with the Christian communities of the Near East for the
Russian policy is found. Earlier Iran tried to view some Christian
communities as possible partners but only the orthodox ones, which was
not successful. Nevertheless, the Shia movements and communities were
able to cooperate closely with the Christian communities of Lebanon,
which has an essential political importance for the country.

Now it is clear that despite the absence of a visible disaster the
Christian communities will have to leave the region. Some rightist
Christian activists of Lebanon say after the removal of the regime of
Alavis in Syria the Christians will live better, and they will get
real social and political rights. In fact, they do not give any
forceful argument. The problem is aggravated because the political
situation in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt is becoming irreversible, which
will affect the Christians who are already having hard times.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the United States,
the EU and the leading European states pay no attention to the state
of the Christians of Syria and Iraq and simply ignore the future of
these communities. The multi-million Christian community of Egypt also
receives little attention. Vatican does not participate in the destiny
of the Near East. In this meaning, the attitude of the West can be
explained by the lack of interest of Catholic and Protestant states in
the destiny of the Orthodox communities which is not something new.

However, the cause of indifference is the interest of the Western
community in the move of Christians from the Near East because that
would ensure more `free’ horizons for political maneuvers in the
region. The Christian communities are indeed hostages and the West
resolves this issue in a `humanitarian’ and `noble’ manner, `clearing’
the region of them. The United States has created a structure headed
by a vibrant lady who deals with this issue. But what change has this
lady brought?

This is the Anglo-American policy on Christians in the region.
However, there is only an interim scenario. In a far-reaching
perspective, the United States and the United Kingdom have made a
decision on a strategic movement, they do not want to leave an
unresolved problem in the region to which they would have to come back
in future.

France which has relied on the Near East’s Catholic (Uniat)
communities understands that by `leaving’ it will lose its presence in
the region. France is conducting a policy of protection of rights of
Christian minorities, pushing an important bill through the
parliament, the decision of the government has been analyzed
thoroughly. But will France be able to stop the process alone, or even
with some support from the EU?