“Ahead To The 100th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide”


    On February 12, 2015, the air in the audience hall of School № 135 after Gagik Stepanian was filled with great excitement. In the framework of the program “Ahead To the 100th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide” the Yerevan City Central Library had organized a meeting with ASALA (Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie') veteran, Commander of “Van” action Vazgen Sislyan, writer, publicist and translator Grigor Janikyan and the veteran of Artsakh war, the oldest member of “Devotee Eagles” military group Spartak Matevosian.
The teachers, students and their parents met the guests with loud applause and flowers. Mr. Grigor Janikyan greeted everyone and emphasized the importance of this meeting for upbringing a generation filled with patriotic spirit. Next the stage was given to Vazgen Sislyan, who, in his inspiring speech, mentioned that he had received the heritage of being Armenian soldier from his grandfather and father. He had spent his childhood training in the mountains and hills of Lebanon and learning how to use arms. Back in 1980s, during the civil war in Lebanon and Beirut young Armenians were organizing units to protect Armenian neighborhoods. Sislyan was one of these young men. And it was during this time that he decides to become a member of ASALA. With the help of his powerful speech Mr. Sislyan transferred the listeners to the 1981, Paris.

“I was offered to take part or to be the commander of a new action. I asked for a week to think about it, to understand if I was ready for it. But after 2-3 days I decided. Why not? And we started to work on the “Van” action. “Van” had a huge importance to me. It was like my biggest dream was coming true. We got ready physically and psychologically and did it. ” That desirable day, September 24, 1981 was approaching.
The Secret Army realized one of its most important actions - the operation “Van”. 4 young Armenian devotees-Vazgen Sislyan, Gevorg Gyuzelyan, Aram Basmajyan and Hakob Julfayan, attacked the Turkish Consulate of Paris. The building was occupied for 16 hours and requirements were made both to French and Turkish governments. One of the requirements was to have a political trail. France was obliged to agree to this and some other conditions, after which young devotees gave themselves up to the police. Another their requirement was to have professors, in order to learn French language and to avoid mistranslation. Armenian Diaspora of France was with the young men all the time. They hired the best lawyers of the country. Here is an abstract from the speech of advocate Le Claire.
“… these boys are not terrorist. They are Armenian soldiers, soldiers of a country which doesn't have diplomatic representatives, means to put pressure on other countries, but it lives, survives due to its culture, language, people, heroes, martyrs and especially soldiers, whom you are judging today. And even if you sentence them, remember that you are condemning soldiers. ”
The young people were sentenced to 7 years to prison. Aram was unable to survive in teh prison and one day he was fond hanged in his. Vazgen, Hakob and Gevorg were relised in 1986. Few years later the news about Nagorna Karabagh war brought them to motherland… Mr. Sislyan was followed by the Education Deputy Derector of School № 135 after Gagik Stepanian Qnarik Hambardzumian. After that students recited some poems devoted to the motherland and presented a short movie devoted to ASALA. In the end of the meeting words of gratitude were expressed by the director of the school Mr. Garegin Nersisyan.

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