988) Iran Discovered “Armenian Trump”

Armenians in Iran organized two different activities in August. The first one was “the Meeting of World Armenians” with participation of Armenians from Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, the US, France and Iran in Chaldiran, Iran.
In a World Meeting of Armenians the matters of “encouraging Armenians to settle in the Chaldiran” region and “making the meeting traditional” were discussed.

Meanwhile, “The Congress of World Armenians” under leadership of Ara Abrahamian, head of Unity of Armenians in Russia, organized a celebration in Urumia. In the frame of this celebration, “Black Church” in Urumia conducted a service and sportive activities were carried out between Armenian children and youths in the sport center of the town.

It is reported that Azerbaijani people, who form the majority in Iran, criticizes the Iranian administration’s for having a “pro Armenian attitude” According to the news coming from the region. Azerbaijani people in Iran argues that “this attitude is not right for Iran considering that Iran is an Islamic state” and “Azerbaijan will not give support to the US for an attack against Iran in case Iran withdraws its support from Armenia.”

“Iran-Armenia cooperation in education”
On the other hand, it is reported that the history and geography text books prepared by Armenian Education Ministry for Armenians in Iran were published by financial aid from the Iranian government.

The said text books were distributed to 10,000 students in 23 Armenian schools throughout Iran. Iran took responsibility for publishing and the distribution of the text books to Armenian students in the 2004-2005 school year too.

As a result of a serial diplomatic contact, which had began April 14, 2004, Iranian and Armenian diplomatic officers paid visits bilaterally to both countries to inspect Iranian and Armenian citizens’ social situation in each countries.

Diplomatic sources say that the meetings between two countries indicate cooperation in education and culture besides improving economical and political situation. As a matter of fact, Former Iranian President Muhammad Hatami had said “Armenia is not just a land for us. It is the place for industrious people and people who have played a great role in improving the universal culture. Iran has special relations with Armenia.”

According to news quoted on April 7, 2005 from “Hayots Ashkhar” by Armenian News Agency, Groong, there is “a special cooperation between Armenia and Iran”…the Leader of the opponent Peoples Party in Armenia and his party had met with Iranian Intelligence Service officers during his visit to Tehran and the meeting was carried out under initiative of the intelligence service.

Armenians in Iran, as result of tolerance the government showed them, again carried out demonstrations for “the so-called 24 April Genocide day” and made speeches against Turkey. As response to the Armenian genocide allegations, people from South Azerbaijan gathered in Tehran, chanting slogans “Tehran is in cooperation with Armenia,” “it should revise this policy…”

National Activists Group in Tehran said “Armenians’ final aim is to get control of the region starching from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea including half of Iranian lands. Iranian authorities give Armenians opportunities to widespread their false opinions.”

It is well known that the Armenians who mostly organize in Tehran, Tabriz and Urumia are in cooperation with Armenians in Europe and America. Moreover, it is claimed that they are collecting information about Turkish organizations operating in regards to South Azerbaijan and inform the Iranian government as well.

Experts think that Iran is giving a wide range of rights to the Armenians in the country, while it put pressure on other ethnic groups in Iran. In that way Iran tries to get support of the Armenian Lobbies in the US and to decrease the pressure on the country.

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