Lebanon Always Supports Claims of Armenian People

The Armenian community of Lebanon, like the entire Lebanese society, is always ready to rebuff the war, unleashed by Israel. Although hostilities did not touch towns and blocks, populated by Armenians, the huge damage and economic crisis had their impact on the community. We do not have statistical data yet, however, for sure the emigration of the Armenian community was not of mass character. Nevertheless, many members, having dual citizenship, left the country. We believe most of them are absent temporarily. A country, which has experienced a war, finds itself in a situation, in which emigration increases and economy falls into decay. The Armenian community cannot stay and live under those conditions. All organizations of the community work jointly to end this situation. We work to create a future for the country and Armenians of Lebanon.

Not to allow Turkish peacekeepers to Southern Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping forces, we act as a united front. At the community level Armenian political parties and NGOs will make statements. The Armenian community has no discrepancies over this issue. We also hold protest actions in front of a number of embassies of western countries. We handed letters to ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, indicating grounds for not admitting Turkish troops in the south of Lebanon. The special message of Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is among respective actions. Local, regional and world media pay much attention to protest actions of the Armenian community. We hope our efforts will not be in vain and Turkey will not be included in the UN contingent. A country, which is a strategic and military partner of Israel and blocks Cyprus must not be admitted to Lebanon. Also a country, where human rights are violated and the Armenian Genocide of 1915 is denied cannot take part in settlement of the Middle East crisis.

Unless the Middle East crisis gets is political solution, forecasting the developments is difficult. It is not clear whether there will be an attempt to solve the issue by military and political tools. At present the international community and superpowers should be interested in establishment of peace in the region. This is the only way to put into effect programs on restoration of the destroyed infrastructure of Lebanon, to revive the economy.

Lebanon has no exact position over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Here it is apt to recall that during his visit to Yerevan Lebanese Parliament Chair Nabih Berri stated he supports the Nagorno Karabakh people right for self-determination. NK FM Georgy Petrosyan was in Lebanon lately. He met with the President, Parliament Chair and FM. I remind that the Lebanese political leadership states on various occasions that it supports the claims of the Armenian people, which also refers to the Karabakh issue.