IN THE NAME OF OUR LANDS
Simon Aynedjian
Gibrahayer
Nicosia 22 April
Armenians in Cyprus have a singular, complex and fateful mission in
these historic lands.
Our conflictual history continues on an island that its own turbulent
history converges, and blue-prints a common path with its people,
with whom we now walk together and face the challenges of tomorrow.
We are not just another community trying to make the next day away
from our lands, as our island is littered with "forensic evidence"
that is being challenged day-in day-out a century later.
On the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and
the historic 2nd pilgrimage to Sourp Magar Monastery on May 10,
our community re-evaluates, prepares and declares.
– We are travelling to Sourp Magar Monastery not as tourists but as
owners of our land. Owners, not only of the lands that belong to our
Church within the property of the Monastery, but as owners of the
occupied lands around it, as Cypriot citizens.
– The effects of the Genocide as well as the invasion of Cyprus are as
current as the time they were perpetrated. Time will heal the wounds,
only if Genocide and invasion are called with their name, evaluated
and addressed as such.
– If the loots of Genocide and invasions are rewarded, we all run the
risk of building societies that accept violence and build a future
based on it.
– Turkish society is increasingly showing signs of coming to terms
with its past. Turkish Cypriots, as witnesses of the influx of the
first Genocide survivors of the Armenians in Cyprus and the first
society that welcomed the Armenian refugees, have a unique role to
serve as a catalyst in assisting Turks in the mainland for reconciling
with their past.
The "forensic evidence" must be put on the table.
However, this is not enough.
In order to claim what rightfully belongs to us and to stay as a
strong link in the history of the Armenians in Cyprus, we have to
stay committed.
– Committed to taking the correct decisions when we run our community
affairs, politically, culturally, and most important of all regarding
our educational institutions.
– Committed to the process of a Cyprus solution that will recognise
the fundamental human rights of all the people of Cyprus, free from
military presence and military threats.
– Committed to showing the world that Cyprus can be a model of
co-existence between the ethnic and religious minorities in which
Armenian and Turkish Cypriots will serve as a model of peace.
– Committed to our history and our link to the past.
– Committed… to our land and in the name of the our lands from
which we were forcefully driven away …. not just once.
On Sunday 10 May …
when we all make our way to Sourp Magar Monastery when we face the path
that brought us here and created our community when we face and sing
"Cilicia" across the sea and the land that our forefathers called
"home"
Let us renew our vows and stay committed in the name of our lands…
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
