Hogasapian rejects Aoun’s remarks about Armenians

The Daily Star, Lebanon
May 5 2004

Beirut MP Jean Hogasapian rejected former Army Commander Michel Aoun’s
recent remarks, saying Lebanon’s Armenians did not follow democratic
traditions and were manipulated by remote control by those controlling
them politically.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the MP said he would like to clarify to
Aoun that Lebanon’s Armenians had done a good job so far integrating
themselves in this country’s political life.

The Armenians “have set up political alliances and have successfully
interacted with all parts of the Lebanese community around them,”
the MP said, adding that the Armenians “abide by Lebanon’s political
principles, specifically those dealing with democracy and political
liberty.”

Commenting on Sunday’s Mount Lebanon municipal elections, Hogasapian
said Armenians had “exercised their right to vote and were not
influenced by any political pressure.”

Aoun-backed candidates in Sunday’s elections had predominantly failed
to give a good account of themselves. Aoun had held Armenian voters
partly to blame for that failure.