MUM HEARS FROM KIDS AFTER LEBANON ESCAPE

Bulletin Wire
July 19, 2006 Wednesday

A Sydney mother has had an emotional telephone reunion with her
teenage son and daughter, members of an Armenian dance troupe who
have escaped war-torn Lebanon.

Rosemary Arabian, 16, and her brother Sion, 15, are members of the
Sydney-based Sevan Dance Group. The troupe’s 45 young performers, with
36 parents and supervisors are now safe in the Jordanian capital Amman.

The federal government organised three buses to pick up the group
and other Australian citizens from their Beirut hotel.

The convoy drove to the Syria capital Damascus early on Monday night
(AEST), before heading to Jordan.

Tatiana Arabian had her first conversation with her children since
they fled Lebanon on the Nine Network’s Today program this morning.

"Everything’s really fine. We’re all fine. There’s nothing to worry
about," Rosemary told her mother by telephone from Amman.

"I’m good, Mum. We’re all fine."

Ms Arabian told Sion she was anxious for the pair to return to Sydney.

"I miss you so much," he said.

With tears in her eyes, Ms Arabian replied: "You can’t believe how
much I miss you, both of you. We all miss you".

"I love you heaps. I love you heaps. You and Rose. I just want you to
come home and we can’t wait for that plane, you know, and we’ll come
to the airport first thing in the morning, whenever you are coming."

Ms Arabian then urged Sion and Rosemary to stay together.

"You just take care, okay? And you just stick together. And don’t
misbehave," she said.

"I love you, okay?"

Sion replied: "I love you too".