Evidence of meeting #20 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was armenian.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
That's correct. That's my understanding.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
That's our understanding, yes.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
And they can not be part of the larger....
Liberal
Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC
They're part of the internally displaced but are not part of the refugee community.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
Yes and they will not...I'm not an expert in the field at all but I don't see how that could be possible.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
It just could not be possible.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
Which brings another facet to all of this.... Should they have to leave Latakia now, where would they go? Back to the history of the last century...? They would be walking back into the same deserts backwards. That's our history and that's our pain.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
And now they're internally displaced with nothing, having left everything behind.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Thank you.
I let it run over a little bit because I thought it was a good exchange.
Colleagues, our clerk is keeping track of the time. So far we still have more than 20 minutes left. I did discuss with some of the committee members and we have their permission to continue on for one more question from the Conservatives, one more from the New Democrats and then we'll wrap up.
Ms. Grewal, would you go next?
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you, Chair.
And thank you to the witnesses for your time and your presentations. As you see, my time is really very short and I would like to ask my two or three questions at the same time and then you can answer all of them together.
My first is that one of the reasons the Assad regime has the support of many religious minorities is the relative safety they were granted during his rule. How were Armenians treated while Assad had full control over Syria and how did this compare to other kinds of Christian groups?
My second question is, should rebels succeed in cowing the Assad regime, what outcomes can be expected for Armenians in Syria? Which outcome, rebel or Assad retreat, is more likely to lead to a positive outcome for Armenians purely in terms of their security?
My third short question is this. A significant problem in Syria is the ethnic and religious cleavages that leave people and families feeling insecure in the presence of neighbours or other groups, so how has the Armenian community adapted to living with insecurity in Syria?
Thank you.
Representative, Government Relations Office, Ottawa, Armenian Church Diocese of Canada
I'm only going to take your last question because that's my area.
Armenians are always used to keeping their head down, working hard, and not getting involved in politics. That is our nature and that is our history. So that's been very easy to do for an Armenian.
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of Canada
Could you please repeat your second question?
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Should rebels succeed in cowing the Assad regime, what outcomes can be expected for Armenians in Syria?
What outcome—rebels or an Assad victory—is more likely to lead to a positive outcome for Armenians purely in terms of their security?
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of Canada
My answer would have to be long, but since I don't have enough time, I will be very brief.
First, I have to mention that after the 1915 genocide, all the Middle Eastern countries accepted these refugees. They were given a place. I won't say that it is was a choice place, but they were given a place, as refugees. They worked in these countries, be it Lebanon, Egypt, Syria or anywhere else in the Middle East.
At this time, we are seeing the situation evolve in such a way that there is going to be war in Syria. Without wanting to accuse anyone, the Islamist movement may provoke that. Obviously minorities are going to pay the price. Throughout the Middle East, it is certain that the Christians are going to pay the price for this new philosophy or this new movement that exists in the Middle East.
The Armenians are in a very particular situation in Turkey. If there's the least turmoil the Armenians are always the first to pay. If there is to be war in Syria, that country will confront Turkey because there is no one else in this regard. All of the Christian minorities will pay the price, starting with the Armenians, That is a fact. In my opinion, that is crystal clear. That is what I experienced, that is what I saw, and that is what I am still seeing. I hope that I won't see the same thing next week.
That was the answer to your second question. Can you tell me what your first question was?
I would like to take the first one.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
The first one was that one of the reasons that the Assad regime had the support of so many religious minorities is the relative safety he granted them during his rule.
How were Armenians treated while Assad had full control of Syria? How did this compare to other Christian groups?
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of Canada
In a situation of total confusion like the one that exists at this time, I do not believe that any Christian community will be favoured over another. What I see is that the Armenians are targeted in this process. If there is a war, the first community that will be targeted by the Turkish army will be the Armenian one. That is something we know. I would not like to be in their shoes at this time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Unfortunately, we are just past your time now.
We turn now to Mr. Benskin.
NDP
Tyrone Benskin NDP Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Thank you.
It's good to see you here. It's good to see you again. We did meet as well last week.
My questions are centred a little more around the logistics. The Armenian community has traditionally, and up until recently, been based in Kassab, right? Prior to the so-called Arab Spring what was the relationship like as far as the communities around Kassab and the Armenian community? Was it relatively peaceful? Were there any significant issues in the community?
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of Canada
If there were incidents, we were not aware of them. Normally, the region were the attack took place is a remarkably quiet, peaceful place, a holiday destination. There is absolutely no problem in that region in connection with the Muslim Brotherhood. Personally, I have heard nothing nor has anyone told me anything about that.