ARMENIANS OF LEBANON DO NOT NEED SELF-DEFENSE

Lragir.am
21 July 06

The Armenian community of Lebanon does not have a problem of
self-defense presently, because the Israeli attacks do not theaten
Armenian settlements, stated Kiro Manoyan, a member of the ARF
Bureau responsible for Hay Dat and political affairs, July 21 at the
Pastark Club.

"My concern is the possible consequences of the land-based intrusion
of Israel rather, which may lead to a civil war," says Kiro
Manoyan. According to him, disarmament of Hezbollah is not only the
demand of the international community and Israel but also the political
forces of Lebanon. And efforts should have been made to fulfill this
demand but the intrusion of Israel occurred, says Kiro Manoyan.

"While they were trying to settle the problem by national agreement,
negotiations, they had not reached a lasting result when the offensive
was stepped up. And when this surge calms down, we need to see that
Lebanon as a state will get over it in some way and avoid a civil
war," says Kiro Manoyan. He says if a civil war starts, the Armenian
community will need self-defense.