Paula Yacoubian - I give blood and soul to Lebanon, Lebanese Armenians are nationality, history, language

Question 

Mrs. Yacoubian, first of all congratulations on your win in the Lebanese Parliamentary election, I believe it was well deserved and much expected, I remember Marcel  Ghanem congratulated you live on MTV a week before the elections

Sovereignty forces inside the parliament have stated that they call upon and extend their hand to the forces of the civil society revolution and the independent figures to cooperate, I am almost certain that you yourself are a believer in the cedar revolution, can you tell us your vision of cooperation with what was known was as 14 March

Answer

I wish there was something called 14 March, all is left is some characters who still believe in its principles, and the concepts of 14 march, as well as 8 March, has ended, when in 2016 the two sides decided to make an agreement, and agreement to share the power, there was no more neither opposition nor the concept of pro rule loyal forces, all that remained is a single team who shares the deals, and he disregards the principles, that is why in 2017 we a group of people gathered and decided that there should be an opposition, and how we should create an awareness among the people that 8 and 14 March turned the country into a grocery shop, ended the status of opposition and all became shareholders, that is why we formed the “National Alliance” Movement and ran to the elections with our candidates, because we saw that the principles were sacrificed to compromises, therefore I declare that we will cooperate with any team, not just 14 march forces, who will run in context of our principles, projects, and the rules that we will propose, we hope that other powers will cooperate with us in our proposals, regardless of his number

Question

Elections and its tension are over, do you intend to cooperate with the other Armenian members of parliament, the Tashnak deputies, Jihad Pakradouni, Talouzian

Answer

As for Lebanese Armenians, their case and situation is exactly the same like all other Lebanese, actually there is not a single case or issue inside the Lebanese parliament that only concerns Lebanese Armenians and does not involve the rest of the Lebanese

They all are living in humiliation, no electricity, in economic crisis, living in worry and anxiety, they are even worried they will not be able to provide their daily bread, they are afraid to reach a phase of total lack, therefore I am ready to work with any member of parliament who might propose reform legislations, or votes in favor of a reform legislation, or contributes in some way to end the vicious circle that Lebanese are living in since years

Therefore what matters for us is to agree on projects, and names don’t count

Question

I remember you called Mr. Hagop Pakradouni to a debate, I think debates are healthy and a sign of tolerance and respect to democracy, he did not respond, do you see a way to ease the tension, for the benefit of the Lebanese Armenian community and Lebanese in general

Answer

Yes I did call Mr. Hagop Pakradounian as well as other Lebanese Armenia candidates for the Lebanese because the people deserve to see us discuss issues face to face, hear our standpoints, views, opinions and ideas clearly about topics and issues, clarity is very important in politics, just like standing firm to one’s positions

So instead of everyone speaks from a single direction, by finding a reporter who will ask him the easy questions, stands up in a face to face live debate and everyone explains what his vision and projects are for the country

I really and sincerely wish we face each other in debates, not Just with Mr. Hagop Pakradouni but with everyone, unfortunately today no one participates in a debate unless he is certain that the other person in the debate recognizes and abides by red lines, and therefore they only create a theatrical debate, not a true sincere one

Question

What are your future plans, I am far, can you tell Lebanese in Armenia if you are now part of any parliamentary bloc or intend to be part of any

Any plans to cooperate with certain blocs or powers

Answer

Today I am part of a parliamentary bloc that consists of 13 members, who won the lists of Change, and most of us won thanks to the votes in the Lebanese expatriate, of course thanks to also Lebanese voters inside Lebanon, but the votes of expatriate played a crucial role, this is the first time ever that I am part of a bloc, because we are a team who looks at the issues from the same standpoint, our approach is similar regarding issues, we have a unified vision, we agreed on the main fundamental headlines, we even agree on the economic plan, we agree on the reform roadmap, that is why I am inside this parliamentary bloc

Question

There is a phenomenon today the Lebanese Civil Society and independent figures have won more than 25 seats, how do you explain this breach of traditional balance of power in Lebanon

Answer

Actually the actual number of winners of the opposition is around 16, not 25, maybe there are some independent figures, maybe the actual number is 18-19, not more than that,

These people did win, ok, But would like to tell you this is not accomplishment, because after all that took place, after all these catastrophes, explosion, drowning, collapse, burnings, after all this, the fact that Lebanese have voted to enable the return of these forces, this is the real catastrophe, this is a very dangerous indication, now I understand the factor of the electoral law, the factors of money getting involved, intimidation, that they brought a lot of Lebanese by  airplanes to Lebanon, but still I cannot understand how come the people gave them all these votes to return as if they are granting them innocence clearance, while they are responsible for all the catastrophes we faced , therefore I am displeased with the results, but we will carry on to eventually gain the trust of more people, hopefully we will be able to contribute to the welfare of the people, despite the fact that we are only 11% of the current parliament

Question

I would like to tell you that even in Armenia, you now have a lot of supporters from all Lebanese groups, what would you like to say to them, and Lebanon is still in their heart

Answer

I am very pleased to hear that I have supporters in Armenia, specially that most of the Media in Armenian is controlled by the Armenian parties, and you know well about this Peter, and the Media knows very well how to represent me in a negative way and even if I do something positive they can represent it to the public opinion as something negative and bad, they know how to distort a story, I am also pleased that there are people who think out of the Box, and not only driven by slogans, who only speak of their partial identity, I am Lebanese and period, and I carry Armenian blood, and have Armenian roots, my father was an Armenian who survived the Armenian Genocide, but Lebanon is my country, I was born in Lebanon, I grew up in it, I drank its water, I lived on  its soil, I lived as a first class Citizen, some people who tell me to go love in Armenia, they don’t decide where should I live, I decide where to live

Most Lebanese Armenians who left to western countries introduce themselves as Lebanese Armenians, not just Armenians, they say I am Armenian from Anjar, Tyre, Bourj Hammoud, Tripoli..

Therefore Lebanese Armenians sense Lebanese identity as much as any other Lebanese

Maybe what makes us different we Lebanese Armenians that we are not only a religion, but we are also of Armenian Nationality, History, language

These is maybe why some people ask or wonder about our loyalty or identity, our loyalty is uncompromised and complete to Lebanon, Lebanon is my country and I give it my blood and soul

Interview by Peter Manoukian