Turkish-Armenian conflict rears its head in Lebanon
Lebanon has been invited to the Armenian Genocide Centennial in Yerevan, as well as to the commemoration of the Battle of Gallipoli in Ankara, which will both be held on the same day, thus raising questions about Lebanon’s stance regarding the 1915 Armenian massacres.
A latent conflict between Turkey and Armenia has erupted in Beirut over the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, particularly in terms of the Lebanese authorities’ stance regarding the celebrations that will be held to mark the occasion.
Lebanon counts a large Armenian community that may be the most prominent among the Armenian diaspora. There are nearly 150,000 Lebanese Armenians, who have an active economic presence in Lebanon, in addition to their participation in the Lebanese political and constitutional system. They have a permanent ministerial share of one or two ministers, depending on the size of the Cabinet, as well as six parliament seats, four of which are in Beirut, where the majority of the Lebanese Armenians live.
The Lebanese Armenian community — Orthodox and Catholic Christian — is firmly preserving its Armenian roots. The Armenian language is taught in the community's own schools, and the majority of the Armenians are affiliated with the Lebanese Armenian political parties. Large Armenian groups live in Armenian-majority areas, such as in some neighborhoods of Beirut and on the northern Metn coast in Mount Lebanon, adjacent to Beirut.
The Lebanese Armenian community constitutes a special case in terms of its involvement in Lebanese society on the one hand, and the preservation of its historic memory on the other. The Armenian community came to Lebanon after being persecuted by the Turks 100 years ago — a persecution that resulted in massacres, tragedies and attempts to exterminate its people.
