ARMENIAN FORUM OPPOSES IRAQI MISSION

Arminfo
22 Oct 04

Yerevan, 22 October: The Armenian government’s proposal to send a
group of Armenian experts to Iraq would mean a declaration of
war. This sharp statement was made today at the 8th forum of
intelligentsia by the former national security aide to the Armenian
president and a founder of the Karabakh movement, (?Ashot
Manucharyan).

He said that Armenia has chosen to ignore its century-old friendship
with neighbouring Muslim countries which have always made careful
statements about Armenia at various international forums, including at
the level of the Organization of Islamic Conference. “Even if one
expert or nurse goes to Iraq, that will be seen as a declaration of
war by the Islamic world and especially by our neighbours,” he said.

Another former representative of the Karabakh committee and member of
the Armenia forum of intelligentsia, Academician Rafael Kazaryan, said
that those who decided this should be punished. He also stressed that
the whole Arab world should be made aware of the fact that the
Armenian people are against the dispatch of experts to Iraq. (Passage
omitted: other participants share the view)