Aztag Armenian Daily, Lebanon
Aug 16 2006

C O M M U N I Q U E
by the Spiritual Leadership of the Armenian Community in Lebanon

Based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, while
deploying in Southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army will be assisted by
multinational forces, who will arrive to reinforce UNIFIL units who
are already there to monitor the situation.

Consultations on the formation of this multinational forces and many
countries are considered as candidates to contribute troops, and
Turkey also is expressing readiness to participate in the
peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

The participation of a Turkish military unit in peacekeeping
operations must be considered as unacceptable considering that Turkey
is a state facing many instances of violations of human rights and
international law. To say the least, it is strange for Turkey to
present itself with the mask of enforcer of justice and peace. The
continuing occupation of Northern Cyprus, the obstinate denial of the
Armenian Genocide and the the trampling upon the rights the rights of
the Kurds are only but few of the issues revealing the true face of
the Turkish state. Lebanon too was not left untouched by the Turkish
atrocities. And today, the Israeli-Turkish military pact does not
allow Turkey to represent itself as an impartial peacekeeper.

Based on these facts, the Armenian spiritual leaders of Lebanon, call
upon the Lebanese government in the name of the Armenian community,
not to accept Turkey’s offer to participate in the peacekeeping
force.

August 16, 2006

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress