99 - all you should know about the Genocide April, 2014 | Page 95

“Did you Kurds know that my father was from here? His grandfather was from here too. His grandfather is one of the Bagrevands of Erzrum. This where they were born, lived, built, created, prayed and died. Their fathers are buried in this land. This is where beads of their sweat fell to the land. This is where they spilled their blood. My roots are here, Kurds.” There is no reply. The Kurds who live on the same land remain silent. That is the best case. In the worst case, the Kurds in all those places recall the stories that came from their grandfathers, about how they fought the Armenians, how they beheaded one Armenian or the other, stole his belongings and occupied his house. Zakare Zakaryan took revenge in Ardebil for the immolation of Armenian princes in Nakhijevan 5 centuries earlier. He burned mullahs in the Ardebil mosque. 5 centuries later. VAN The province of Van, the birthplace of the Armenian nation, lies east of Mush. This is the location of the Valley of the Armenians where, according to legend, Hayk the Patriarch emerged victorious. This is the location of the Urartian fortress of Tushpa. This is the location of Mher’s door, behind which legend says that Little Mher waited for Armenia to be strong and prosperous again. The half-ruined Varaga Monastery lies here, as did the Narek Monastery, not a stone of which remains today. And, of course, the most beautiful structure of Van is located here, on an island – Aghtamar. In contrast to the Arakelots Monastery in Kars, Aghtamar has been lucky – it is not a mosque. In fact, it functions as a church once a year. Only one day. I was lucky to be at Aghtamar on that happy day. The Armenian language, numerous Armenians from Turkey and abroad, dance troupes, the elderly, the young – the place was teeming. Tens of security personnel were present, charged with maintaining order at the event, because attacks by radicals were quite probable on that day.