Exclusive Interview: Armenians and UK General Elections

• 05.07.2015, 14:33
•  Europe,  World,  Interview

"Armedia” Information Analytical Agency presents an exclusive interview with Dr. H.H. Kouyoumjian, Honorary Secretary of the Armenian Genocide Centenary Commemoration Committee, UK.

- Would you provide some general information on the Armenian community in UK? How much are the Armenians integrated into the internal life of UK? Are they united?

- The exact number of Armenians in the UK is not known.  It is generally thought to be between 25,000 and 30,000.  The community is organised around a number of parishes in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff.  There is parish in Dublin in Ireland. Most Armenians in the UK are from Cyprus, Iran, Lebanon and Armenia.  The old fault lines based on the traditional political affiliations do exist in people’s minds, but the educated class tries to gloss over these and present a united front especially as regards important national issues such as Armenia and the Genocide.

- How active do Armenian community participate in UK politics in general and in elections in particular? Which political party/ies do the Armenians affiliate? Why?

- This is not an active participation.  It is not coordinated as there are no institutions that can focus attention on such issues.  There is one supposedly community wide structure, but it unfortunately does not appear to represent all sectors and confessions.  Many look forward to its gradual evolution into a real community wide structure representing the Armenian interests and aspirations.  Having said this it is to be noted that the community glosses over these fault lines in relation to major issues such as the Genocide when all activities are coordinated by a central unifying body.

Not many Armenians are members of the local political parties. They vote in my opinion conservative, Labour and Lib Dem in line with their traditional Armenian affiliations. There are many professions such as solicitors, doctors engineers etc. However this has not coalesced into a cohesive political force. One more generation is needed.

- Which UK party/ies are more supportive to the Armenian community? How their supportiveness is expressed?

- The support to Armenian issues from the local politicians is individual base and not party based. Again the reasons are twofold: our numbers are small and there is no proactive political activism.  The structures for such activities have not as yet matured within the community.  There was one councillor from west London, but gave it up as  he became disenchanted with the community support.  He faced a partisan Armenian approach rather than a bi-partisan one.  Members of parliament from both camps support some Armenian issues in west London, where there is a concentration of Armenian votes.  As mentioned, support is individual based, rather than party based. 

- Are there Armenian candidates in the upcoming election? If not, what is it conditioned by? If yes, who are they? Which party do they represent and how high are their chances?

- There are no candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The reason again is twofold: our numbers and the absence of community wide structures promoting such active involvement.  The community based structure that could catalyse such action in the future is losing ground as it is not perceived to be representing the whole community. It is hoped that this state of affairs will change and evolve into a structure representing all the sections and confessions of the community in the UK.