You do not come across clashes in the streets in Aleppo, but you still feel tension, says Hrant Margaryan, a senior representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau, who has recently returned from Aleppo.
Mr. Margaryan says several Armenians have died during the ongoing internal armed conflict in Syria.
"About six people died in Syria: two of them died accidently in an explosion, others died during the military service," said Mr. Margaryan.
Hrant Margaryan thinks that Armenia should not intervene in the life of the local Armenian community which has some 60 000 members. First, as the Dashnaktsutyun member says, the intervention may create panic in the community. Second, the conflicting sides may come into conflict with Armenians and finally, Armenia cannot offer much to the Syrian Armenians.
"We cannot provide them with jobs, housing and many other important things," says Mr. Margaryan.
"The Armenia community of Syria, which was formed after the Armenian Genocide of 1915, has always enjoyed the country's hospitability. I would like our compatriots living in Syria to stay in the country and share its fate along with other citizens," said Mr. Margaryan.
As long as they are in Syria, Armenia should help them resist all challenges and keep aloof from the internal conflict. Anyway, if Armenians decide to leave Syria, Hrant Margaryan would like them to settle in Armenia.
