Armenian communities in the Middle East are currently under  existential threat - Vera Yakupyan 

ArmInfo. The Armenian communities of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Middle East as a whole, which became centers of active survival after the Genocide, are now facing an existential threat, according to Vera Yakupyan of the Azdag  publication.

According to her, the collapse of state structures, demographic  decline, and Turkey's growing influence have created an unstable  environment in which the Armenian presence is becoming increasingly  vulnerable. "Turkey's indirect control over Aleppo has changed the  political and military-economic balance in the region, and Lebanon's  economic collapse has accelerated emigration. The question is no  longer about sounding the alarm, but about developing a new  strategy," she noted, as quoted by the Armenian Revolutionary  Federation (ARF).

Yakupian is confident that the future of Armenian communities remains  closely tied to the ability of traditional diaspora parties,  especially the ARFF, to choose new political and organizational  paths. "The 35th Congress of the ARF already emphasized that the  party's goal should be 'building a competitive national state of new  quality and preserving Armenian identity.' This position should pave  the way from ideological confrontation to practical stabilization and  modernization.

But even so, this transformation cannot be limited to a vision. How  can Armenian communities in the Middle East transform their  historical resilience into institutional stability in the face of  modern geopolitical threats? This flexibility will only be realized  through the modernization of structures, the formation of new  alliances, and initiatives that directly serve the survival of the  communities," Yakupian asserts.

She recalled that historically, the ARF has been a defender of  Armenian identity and the interests of the diaspora, but today it  needs to transform its powerful infrastructure-schools, youth  organizations, media, and community structures-into flexible centers.  According to her, these structures can provide legal and  psychological support during times of crisis and simultaneously serve  as platforms for representing Turkey's regional aspirations in the  international community.

"A new generation must be trained as political advocates for the  diaspora, capable of establishing contacts with international  organizations, Western governments, and think tanks. This means a  shift for the ARF from a classic, purely ideological (and  oppositional in Armenia) position to a redistribution of alliances.   Forming alliances not only with Armenia's domestic political  structures but also with multinational minorities in the Middle East  (Assyrians, Kurds, Maronites) can ensure a common defense," Yakupyan  believes. She believes the ARF needs to shift its approach from  confrontation to cooperation, building it, including with  international NGOs and UN agencies, not from a partisan standpoint,  but as a representative of the region's endangered communities.

"Armenia's new political course, aimed at normalizing relations with  Turkey and Azerbaijan, has exacerbated the mistrust between the  diaspora and its homeland. Much of the diaspora views this process as  a violation of historical justice, while the Armenian authorities  present it as a realistic step toward stability and survival. This  opposition could hinder the protection of Armenian communities in the  Middle East. But the crisis also creates new opportunities," Yakupyan  continued.

She is confident that relations between Armenia and the diaspora must  be restructured not on an emotional or ideological basis, but on the  basis of strategic realism.

"Armenia must recognize that diaspora communities face immediate  threats, and their protection is inseparable from pan-Armenian  responsibility. An effective approach requires Armenia to regularly  raise minority protection issues at international forums (UN,  UNESCO), framing them as cultural and human rights issues. The fate  of Armenian communities in the Middle East can no longer depend on  historical memory. A clear strategy, structural restructuring, and  pan-Armenian maturity are needed. The ARF, thanks to its historical  legitimacy and organizational capabilities, is uniquely positioned  for leadership and restoration," she added.

Yakupyan believes that Armenia, having normalized its foreign  relations, must act not only as a state but also as a force bearing  pan-Armenian responsibility. The diaspora must transform itself into  a social organization that brings together diverse experiences and  capabilities.

"If Armenian political and social forces pool their capabilities,  reconsider their approach, and act in solidarity, then the Armenian  presence in the Middle East can not only be preserved but also become  an example of a new vision based on flexibility, cooperation, and  strategic wisdom," she concluded.