Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with well-known French-Armenian journalist, satirist, President of the Armenia Union of Valence and co-chair of the ”April 24^th Committee of Drom Ardeche” Krikor Amirzaian.

Hayern Aysor: Welcome to the Homeland! I consider it an honor to conduct an interview with a well-known journalist and national figure. What is the purpose of your visit to Armenia?

Krikor Amirzaian: I have been following the developments and rebirth in Armenia since the very first days of Armenia’s declaration of independence, and since the 21^st of September of this year was the year marking the 25^th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence, I came to participate in the festivities. I witnessed a marvelous celebration and saw how parents had come with their children to watch the military parade. I saw the people and the army. Apparently, the people are proud of our army. Everyone was applauding and screaming happily. I had truly come to see some new weapons and see what I had been told, become convinced and state facts in French newspapers. I took 200-300 photos and prepared a report for Nouvelles d’Armenie, which is a well-known electronic newspaper with large readership. I have been a journalist for the newspaper for many years. The Armenians of France want to be rest assured that Armenia and Artsakh can resist and win again in case of another war, God forbid and whether we have powerful weapons. Thank God, I saw all that with my own eyes, and I feel proud! These days I saw people who were happy and proud. Of course, there is still a lot of work to do, but I am certain that all Armenians will stay in Armenia, if there is peace and if they have jobs.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Amirzaian, I know you have organized many cultural events. What is the most memorable cultural event that you organized recently and what was the occasion?

K. A.: I have been the president of Armenia Union for about 20 years. I am also the co-chair of the “April 24^th Committee of Drom Ardeche”, along with two other co-chairs. We consolidated the unions, societies and associations of Valence and commemorated the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Among the attendees were Frenchmen and Armenians. There were about 2,000 French-Armenians attending the event. We organized the event very well on the day commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide. We wrote and enacted 60 scripts in Valence and notified Frenchmen in a very influential way. The fact that all Armenian unions and political parties united around the same idea is very important, and this was the greatest success in the past couple of years.

Hayern Aysor: In addition to being a journalist and correspondent for notable newspapers and magazines, you are also one of the founders of Radio A in Valence. The radio station broadcasts programs 17 hours a day. What are the topics covered during the radio shows?

K. A.: True, I am one of the founders, but I am no longer part of the staff, though I have close ties with the staff members. The radio shows are mainly devoted to patriotism and feature Armenian songs, music and news from Armenia and Artsakh. Out of the 120,000 people in Valence, 10,000 are Armenians. The radio plays a special role in the lives of the local Armenians since it is able to consolidate the Armenians and provide them with daily and very important news. We also have French and Armenian newspapers, and one of the well-known newspapers features a page devoted to Armenians in its Sunday edition. I am also a correspondent for that newspaper. I write about Armenia, the Armenians and the unions, societies and associations. We think about Armenia and Artsakh every second.

Hayern Aysor: You were born in Syria. What about your birthplace?

K. A.: Of course, the Armenians of Syria are our great pain…Our Aleppo has been practically destroyed. Before Beirut, Aleppo was the guiding light for Armenians abroad. Erdogan continued what the Young Turks had done. The notable intellectuals and wide layers of the society of Aleppo are leaving for Beirut, Los Angeles or Paris, and some are leaving for Armenia…There are probably only 8,000 Armenians left in Syria. It is very painful to see that that wonderful community is in ruins. The Armenian Diaspora will lose a lot by losing those communities. We need to be able to reinforce our communities in order to prevent the danger of assimilation.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Amirzaian, you are a journalist, editor, satirist, national and public figure. In which sphere do you feel more successful and more important?

K. A.: I am known as a patriot, a person who loves his nation and a member of a union, but above all, I attach importance to my longstanding career in journalism. I have been a journalist for 40 years. Sometimes it seems to me that I have been a journalist since the day I was born. I have been and still am a correspondent for several newspapers.

Hayern Aysor: To this day, which of your articles do you consider the most interesting article, the article with the most feedback and the article that has been appreciated the most?

K. A.: There are so many materials that I can’t set aside a certain article at this moment. I have 25-30,000 printed materials. It is just that articles devoted to major events are always read more frequently such as articles devoted to the Four-Day Artsakh War in April.

Hayern Aysor: As a well-known and merited journalist, what innovation have you made in the field of journalism?

K. A.: My first goal has been to have people read Armenian newspaper. So, I decided to attach satirical drawings and attract people’s attention. I currently have materials to which I even attach two or three caricatures. This is my innovation. I don’t want to sound immodest. I am not the only one. I am simply a drop in the sea. I write a lot about sports. Look, I wrote about Arthur Aleksanyan, our champions through which young Armenians of the Diaspora can become connected to the Homeland. I visited Artsakh and took photos in Martakert, Aghdam, Shushi and Stepanakert so that I can show the world that Artsakh exists and that it is a marvelous country.

Hayern Aysor: Have you showcased your caricatures at an exhibition?

K. A.: Yes, my articles and caricatures have been published in Armenia as well. I recently showcased my caricatures at an exhibition in Valence. I have also published two books of my caricatures. I might hold an exhibition in Yerevan as well. I am very busy. I post 40 pieces of news about Armenia and Artsakh every day.

Hayern Aysor: You are also the president of the Future and Memory Organization. What is the mission statement of your organization?

K. A.: I coordinate activities. The main purpose of this organization is to have the Armenian Genocide be recognized through European Union member states. We spread the news so that Frenchmen support the Armenians and we fight against denial of the Armenian Genocide together. If we Armenians fail to be alert and careful, our enemies can spread misinformation about the topic.

Hayern Aysor: You visited Armenia two years ago. What changes do you notice?

K. A.: The city has become beautiful. I would like to see the development of suburbs. Stepanakert has become very beautiful. When I see the lights in Yerevan from the airplane, I feel glad that they are bright and many in number.

Hayern Aysor: Thank you, Mr. Amirzaian! I wish you an ongoing and more prolific career in the field of journalism.

Karine Avagyan