LEBANESE ARMENIANS OPPOSE INCLUSION OF TURKEY IN PEACEKEEPING FORCES
Yerkir
17.08.2006 14:55
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Under the United Nations Security Council Resolution
1701, international forces are to be deployed along with the Lebanese
army in the south of the country.
Consultations are held on the composition of the international troops.
Turkey has also expressed its readiness to assume peacekeeping mission
in Lebanon.
Turkey’s participation in the peacekeeping forces should be deemed
unacceptable as Turkey has an extensive record of violating human
rights and international law, and it is at least odd for Turkey
to present itself with a mask of a country implementing peace and
justice. The continuing occupation of northern Cyprus, the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, the violation of the rights of Kurds
are just some of the issues revealing the real face of the Turkish
government. Lebanon too has had its part of the Turkish tyranny.
The current Turkish-Israeli military agreement does not allow Turkey
to be a neutral peacekeeper.
Therefore, we, the religious leaders of the Lebanese Armenians,
call on the Lebanese government to turn down Turkey’s participation
in the peacekeeping forces.
Rev. Soghomon Kilaghpian Bishop Vardan Ashgarian Lebanese Armenian
Catholic Church Bishop Gegham Khacherian Religious leader of Lebanese
Armenians