Armenian political parties in Lebanon

ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES IN LEBANON

There exist three parties in Lebanon, which play an important role in the political and cultural life of the Armenian society: Dashnaks, Hunchaks and Ramkavars. The first Armenian political institution in Lebanon was the branch of the Dashnak Party set up in the year 1901 by the students of the American University of Beirut(31). Actually, the Dashnak Party established at Tiflis in the year 1890 founded the short-lived Armenian Republic's government between the years 1918 and 1920. With the seizure of the power by the Communists in the Republic, the party members scattered all round the world, including Lebanon, USA, Iran, France and many other countries.

The goal which the Party aims at is to establish an independent and non-communist Greater Armenia by bringing together territories to be seized from Turkey in compliance with the Sevres Treaty of 1920, whose enforcement was not attempted and those of the present Armenian Republic. In the Armenian literature, these are known to be sympathizers of the Western world(32). Dashnaks are the must influential party representad(33) in the Lebanese parliaments.

(33) In our opinion, the reason behind the relentless campaign against the Republic of Turkey and Turks by the Dashnak Party lies the fact that the Armenian army formed under Dashnak leadership was defeated by the army, of Mustafa Kemal Pasha in 1920 and the inferiority felt for being forced to sign Gümrü (Alexandropol) Treaty on 2/3 December 1920.

Hunchak party pursues the goal of annexing territories to be taken away from Turkey to the current Armenian Republic. In the Armenian literature, these are known to be the partisan of a policy which backs Russia. It was established in the year 1897 in Geneva. It is rather influential in the United States, France and Armenian Republic(34).

The Ramkavar Party appears to be pursuing the goal of ensuring, survival of Armenians by emphasis upon social and cultural problems. Its tendency is deemed neutral in Armenian literature. It was founded in the year 1908 in Istanbul. A tendency towards Hunchak Party is being felt(35).

DIPNOTES

(31) Hratch Bedoyan, the said article, p. 124.

(32) Erdal İlter, Ermeni Propagandasının Kaynakları, pp. 12-13.

(34) Erdal İlter, ibid, p. 13.

(35) Erdal titer, ibid, p. 13.

SPECIAL BUREAU OF REPUBLIC TURKIYE

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