Interview
The conference addressed the consequences of the conflict, including the forced displacement of Armenians and the destruction of their heritage.
During the conference, Paula Yacoubian, a member of Parliament in Lebanon, served as a moderator for the discussions.
Yacoubian, born Paulette Sirakan Yaghobian, is a Lebanese lawmaker, journalist, and political activist of Armenian descent.
In a video interview, Yacoubian shares her personal heritage. “My father is Armenian and he is a genocide survivor,” she says.
One of Lebanon’s most recognized media figures, Yacoubian built a prominent career across Lebanese and pan- Arab television, becoming a leading advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and political reform.
"So I have this heritage in me, and I would like to always repeat this because when I see war everywhere, sometimes from outside if you look at the conflict, it’s a religious conflict—but that’s not the case,” she says. “Most of the time—it’s political.”
Yacoubian also reflected on how people in power feed on the divisions between people. “They work on our differences; they divide and conquer,” she says. “I’m hoping for a new wave in the world where you bring people together for peace, justice, tolerance, love. This is not naive. This is how it should be.”
Final statement of the Armenian Heritage Conference
More WCC video interviews from the Armenian Heritage Conference
