On the night of 1 April, Azerbaijan’s offensive actions along the entire length of the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact not only violated our borders, but also caused a storm for Armenians around the world. Armenians in Armenia and in different communities of the Diaspora made calls to support Artsakh, the people of Artsakh and the soldiers of the Armenian Army.

In an interview with Hayern Aysor, editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Daily Shahan Kantaharian talked about the current atmosphere within the Lebanese Armenian community, the actions that have been taken and the future plans.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, what do you think made Azerbaijan launch an attack?

Shahan Kantaharian: Azerbaijan’s current behavior is very comprehensible, and the main reason for its aggression is also clear. The fact that Turkey backs Azerbaijan is even visible to the naked eye. Azerbaijan wouldn’t take such action without an indication from its “elder brother”. This is a fact. It receives its main support (information, propaganda, diplomacy, military) from its ally Turkey.

We all know how mixed up the situation in Turkey is. Due to several domestic and foreign challenges, Ankara has found itself in a very bad situation. With this step, Azerbaijan is trying to distract the attention of certain geopolitical forces from Turkey.

However, I believe international organizations will eventually succeed in imposing a ceasefire on Azerbaijan.

Here we also need to take into consideration the defense of the Armenian party and the adequate actions, even actions that cause more painful blows. These actions will help impose peace on the opponent.

Hayern Aysor: How is the Armenian community of Lebanon these days when all Armenians of the world have risen to their feet?

S. K.: All the Armenians of Lebanon are supportive. The political parties have already expressed their official positions and have condemned Azerbaijan’s aggression. At the same time, with all their potential and willingness, they have expressed their solidarity with the authorities of the two Armenian republics, that is, the Republic of Armenia and the Artsakh Republic and to put in all their efforts to keep the borders of our homeland impregnable.

The youth unions of various political parties have also expressed their protest and support. On 6 April, the youth wing of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun will hold a meeting at the square of Bourj Hammoud to express solidarity with the people and government of Artsakh, and I am certain that the youth will make calls to help our people at this difficult moment.

You are also aware that Armenian spiritual leaders will say prayers and will hold Requiem Services for support and for the souls of the deceased Armenian soldiers and innocent citizens to rest in peace. During a phone conversation with President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia expressed his solidarity, and this was followed by the statement by His Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch Krikor Bedros I of the Armenian Catholics of the House of Cilicia.

The Armenian community of Lebanon is closely following the developments of the events. Aztag Daily is also working under a special regime, providing reports every five minutes based on the press releases issued by the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Artsakh Republic, as well as the official statements of other government agencies.

The community is informed and is following the events every minute.

We will also start working with foreign embassies to make sure they are provided with objective analyses and understand what is really happening on the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan border and that our demand is that they suppress Azerbaijan’s actions.

We will talk to the Ambassadors of OSCE member states and will send them memos. So, we are working at the diplomatic, political, national, spiritual and informational levels, and of course, our goal is to support the Armenians of Artsakh.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, how is the Arab media responding to the incidents in Artsakh?

S. K.: The Arab media’s response is not definite. Unfortunately, the general trends of world news are not right and are also pro-Azerbaijani to a certain extent. We have some flaws that also have an impact on the Arab World. We need to be very careful to make sure the religious factor is not speculated.

That is why the Armenian National Committee yesterday sent a group of journalists of one of the major all-Arab television companies (MTV) to Artsakh. The group, which will be following the developments of the events and incidents on the site, includes a member of the Armenian National Committee.

MTV is a television company that has a large audience in the Arab World. With this, we are trying to not only counterbalance the opponent’s ambitions to provide misinformation, but also lead the media in the right direction, and the pivot of that needs to be the right of the people of Artsakh to live independently, a right that has been established by the right to national self-determination in line with international law and determined by a referendum.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, you stated that you have some flaws in terms of information. So, what do we journalists of Armenia and the Diaspora need to do in that field?

S. K.: Today we are also in an information war that is as heated as the war that has broken out on the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan war. Here we Armenians are at an advantage. These days Armenian media outlets practically didn’t fall in the opponent’s misinformation trap.

At the same time, we, as Armenian media outlets, need to exclusively refer to the official news provided by the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Making a mistake is inadmissible. We also have to be alert in terms of protecting the boundaries of the Armenian field of information.

We need to be very active in monitoring foreign presses so that we can counterattack the pro-Azerbaijani, unilateral and distorting information. We need to not only specify the information, but also spread news that is accurate.

We have a little flaw in terms of having an impact on foreign presses and need to work more actively.

If Azerbaijan refers to the principles of different international organizations stressing territorial integrity, then we need to refer to the international norms of the right of nations to self-determination. We also need to stress that Turkey, which backs Baku, has already found itself in a bad situation and is trying to distract the attention of geopolitical forces through the use of different fronts.

We are certain that we will overcome this trial as well. Experience has shown that when all Armenians unite, we always win. We have all the preconditions to unite and record victory in this historic milestone.

God willing, peace is established soon, but we need to be powerful in order to impose the establishment of that peace.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, the Government of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has called out to all Armenians around the world. How have the Armenians of Lebanon responded?

S. K.: The Armenians of Lebanon definitely supported that. They are ready to provide assistance in terms of information, diplomacy, politics and humanitarian assistance and pay heed to the authorities of Artsakh. All Armenians of Lebanon wish to help Artsakh, and a lot depends on how long the clashes will last. The demands and priorities are different at every milestone.

Let us not forget that the Armenian community of Lebanon was the first to stand with the people of Artsakh during the days of the struggle for Artsakh’s liberation and on the battlefield. They were killed and wounded. Even today, the Lebanese-Armenians are ready to take weapons and fight for Artsakh’s independence.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, if I am not mistaken, your daughter, Sanan’s husband is also in Artsakh.

S. K.: Many Diaspora Armenians are standing by Artsakh’s side today. Many volunteers have left for Artsakh and are trying to help the people and the government of Artsakh. My son-in-law and his cousin are among the volunteers. They are helping as journalists, but they try to assist in all the efforts that Artsakh is in need of today.

Hayern Aysor: Mr. Kantaharian, everyone is talking about the unity and heroism of the Armenians. What do you ��?see’?

S. K.: I feel the awakening of the nation because all other issues have been left aside. All the unions, societies and associations and political parties are only focused on supporting and joining the efforts and have expressed their willingness to help the Armenians of Artsakh.

Artsakh is the homeland of all Armenians. Defending the homeland is the most cherished, the most primary and a sacred act for all us Armenians.

Lusine Abrahamyan