Sarkis Hatspanian: We cannot let a family member decide for an entire nation (video)
The body of Levon Ekmekjian, a soldier of Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) was transferred from Turkey to France on January 4. “Where will his remains be buried – in France or in Yerablur pantheon [in Yerevan] as a national hero?” Sarkis Hatspanian, an expert on regional issues, told reports today. Hatspanian knew Ekmekjian and his family very well. “Levon’s family said it wanted to take Ekmekjian’s body to France and funeral rites in their family cemetery, where Levon’s father is buried. It is the wish of his mother,” Mr Hatspanian said. “I have told the family many times that as the last Armenian who was executed in Turkey [in 1983] Levon should be buried in his homeland, in Yerablur. I even cited the example of Zoravar Andranik whose remnants were moved to Yerablur cemetery in Yerevan in 2000 from Per-Lashez cemetery in Paris. I think that Yerablur is the only place where Levon can be buried and where our future generations can go and pay tribute to the hero,” he added. Sarkis Hatspanian says they need time to persuade Levon’s family. “Levon Ekmekjian is a national hero and he belongs to the Armenian nation, we cannot let a family member decide for an entire nation. I think we need time to be able to transfer his remains to Armenia,” Mr Hatspanian added. Ekmekjian, a Lebanese Armenian, was one of two ASALA members who attacked Ankara’s Esenboga Airport with bombs and gunfire in August 1982. Seven people and Ekmekjian’s accomplice, Zohrab Sarkisyan, were killed while Ekmekjian survived. He was executed on January 28, 1983 at Ankara’s Ulucanlar prison after being found guilty of carrying out the attack. Ekmekjian was 25 at the time of his execution.
