On Wednesday, 2 February 2022, the periodic meeting of the leadership bodies of the three Lebanese-Armenian political parties — the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — took place at the Shaghzoyan Center.
The meeting first and foremost addressed Lebanon’s internal political situation and the recent developments it has experienced. In the sphere of the interest shown toward Lebanon by international and regional powers, emphasis was placed on Turkey’s dangerous activities. The ongoing severe socio-economic situation formed the axis of the general discussions. The meeting confirmed that the Lebanese citizen is facing great difficulties, and that the initiatives undertaken by the state in this regard, being still insufficient, have not succeeded in achieving favourable results.
Within this framework, the meeting addressed the difficulties and crises facing the Lebanese-Armenian community. It appreciated the efforts and initiatives of all unions and structures in responding to the people’s needs. Special value was placed on the solicitude shown by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, toward the Lebanese-Armenians, and his initiatives and sponsorship of charitable programmes to address their needs. All relief work and initiatives were considered vital, proceeding from the conviction of keeping the community’s pan-Armenian role intact.
The meeting then addressed the agenda of the upcoming parliamentary elections and once again confirmed the necessity, proceeding from the logic of the current electoral law, of a deep and consistent discussion of this dossier among the parties, so as to be able to secure and guarantee the community’s accurate representation and the unbroken preservation of its rights.
The circumstance was brought into the spotlight that in these elections, the socio-economic crisis facing the people will inevitably have its impact on the overall electoral process. Therefore, one must be vigilant and in no way give opportunity to those parties and individuals who, exploiting this difficulty of the people, will try to disrupt the community’s representation and weaken its political weight and role.
It was decided that, in the sense of further crystallising this agenda, interparty sessions should be kept open, and through continuous consultations, strive to reach the adoption of successful and practical electoral alliances and a process that protects the interests of the Lebanese-Armenian community.
The meeting also discussed the necessity of redefining the community’s pan-Armenian role, and in this sense crystallised certain thoughts and proposals that will form the basis in the future for the adoption of new community-wide programmes and a working roadmap.
