Armenian Community in Venezuela Needs Assistance: Interview With the Head of the Armenian National Committee of Southern America (EXCLUSIVE)

• 03.18.2019, 13:16
•  America,  World,  Armenia,  Diaspora,  Interview

“Armedia” IAA talked to the head of the Armenian National Committee of Southern America, Hakob Tabakyan about the situation in Venezuela, possible outcomes as well as the Armenian community and their needs.

-Mr Tabakyan, the crisis in Venezuela is exasperating. Are there possible settlement scenarios?   

As of now there is no settlement in the horizon. Polarization among the society on the one hand for president Maduro and for the president of the national assembly Juan Guaidó on the other hand is intense. The latter has declared himself as president of the country and has been recognized as such by a number of countries in the continent. Notwithstanding the efforts of the international organizations and other countries, such as the European Union, Uruguay and Mexico to bring about a dialogue and hold new democratic elections of a legitimate government under free and fair international observation, the two actors of the unrest Maduro and Guaido themselves do not agree on a dialogue, for each one believes to be the legitimate head of the state. As a result food and medication, drinking water and power related crisis is increasingly exacerbating, not mentioning the escalating inflation and decline in the currency value, emigration of millions of citizens. The political unrest and polarization also make foreign humanitarian aid impossible, which is also politicized.

-      What impact can the situation in Venezuela have on other Latin America countries?  

In the region Maduro is supported by Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, the so called Bolivian type  governments. The remaining countries, namely Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chili, Peru and Paraguay with right wings authorities in power for a few years with the US support and active participation have established the Lima Group within the American States Organization which is explicitly against Maduro’s government and supports Guaido. This group is pressing on Maduro’s regime through economic sanctions in order to topple the latter. Among Trump administration for sure there are circles who are for military intervention even. That seems to be a red line for Latin America countries whose publics are unequivocally against foreign military intervention. Uruguay and Mexico being left-centered governments tried through the support of the EU to establish a commission aimed at solving the crisis through dialogue and democratic elections but the efforts are not upbeat as of now.

-What can you say about the Armenian community in Venezuela? What is their situation? What are their needs? Is there an operative line with them? Is there a common position among them?

The Armenian community in Venezuela as in the other Latin American countries was mainly formed from Genocide survivors and they came to be more united in the 70s of the previous century. Although the total number is fewer than 4000 they had significant achievements in the last thirty years. In 1987 Saint Gregory the Illuminator church was built in Caracas, which became a center for unifying the community. In 2001 the Genocide memorial at the church was built in the shape of Tsitsernakaberd. Four years later under Hugo Chavez authority  Venezuelan National Assembly came up with a number of statements for support of the Armenian cause, among them calling on the European Union to not approve of Turkey membership unless the latter recognizes the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide. In those years the community was agile with public statements and protests also for the cause of Hrant Dink’s assassination.

But the present crisis has struck the Armenian community as well. A few days ago we had a telephone conversation with an active representative of the community under the power blackout. He told us that they did not have drinking water and the internet was very poor. The conversation was often cut. Because of the crisis in the country the community center is deserted but the interlocutor said that they did not lose hope for better days. They continue the Sunday mass but that being almost the only occasion for coming together. Compared to the days under Chavez the community does not have direct connection with the government. Moreover, the community is concerned about the increasingly tight connections of Maduro’s government with Turkey. In fact, of the foreign powers, Erdogan is the most supportive to Maduro, with the latter not only having met with Turkey’s president many times but praising him publicly. The community members are interested in getting Armenian citizenship but there is no diplomatic representative office in Caracas, neither can they travel to Brazil or Buenos Aires to apply for citizenship. It is noteworthy that even renewing Venezuelan passports in is not easy.