ARF Lebanon Continues Meetings in Opposition of Turkish Troop Deployment
Aztag Daily, Lebanon
Aug 25 2006
BEIRUT (Aztag)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee
of Lebanon continued meeting with members of the Lebanese foreign
diplomatic corps to express the vehement opposition of the Armenian
community to the proposed deployment of Turkish troops as part of
the United Nations mandated cease fire resolution.
The delegation met with Patric Renault, representative of the European
Union in Lebanon as well as ambassadors of Jordan, Spain, Argentina.
The ARF appeal opposing the Turkish troop deployment has been sent to
the ambassadors of Belgium, Switzerland, the Vatican, the Netherlands,
United Aram Emirates and Congo. ARF representatives are expected to
meet with other ambassadors in the coming days.
The ARF appeal vehemently raises objections to the deployment of
Turkish troops in southern Lebanon, arguing that the presence of
Turkish forces would compromise the peace process since it would
effectively impair the principle of impartiality of peacekeeping
forces.
The appeal being presented to foreign diplomat also points out
that Turkey and Israel have signed several military agreements,
which would contribute to jeopardize stability and the aims of the
cease-fire resolution.
In advancing the same issue, an ARF delegation Saturday met with
Lebanese prime minister Fuad Siniora to express its opposition to
a proposed deployment of Turkish troops as part of a United Nations
mandated peacekeeping force to southern Lebanon.
Hovig Mkhitarian and parliament member Hagop Pakradouni were part of
the delegation, which initially applauded Siniora for his leadership
and posturing during the crisis and praised his decision to dispatch
the Lebanese Army units to the border with Israel.
The delegation went on to express the Armenian community’s collective
opposition to deploying Turkish troops on Lebanese soil, explaining
that when all Armenian religious leaders collectively are opposing
this process, it should signal a community-wide consensus on the issue.
It was emphasized that an agreement to deploy Turkish troops in
Lebanon will create across the board dissatisfaction and outrage
within the community, which has continuously and historically supported
the government.
Siniora informed the delegation that he was grappling with the reality
that there were not sufficient international forces available to
fulfill the needs of the international peacekeeping force, but stressed
that he fully comprehended the expressed position of the delegation.
The delegation emphasized that the deployment of Turkish forces to
Lebanon, under any circumstances would endanger Lebanon’s stability.
"We have continually worked toward bolstering Lebanon’s stability and
security. This Turkish issue will undoubtedly create instability in
Lebanon," explained Pakradouni.
The two ARF leaders met Tuesday with Lebanese defense minister Elias
Mur, who hosted the meeting at his residence.
The delegation praised the defense minister and the Lebanese army for
their resolute posturing during the Israeli attacks and expressed their
condolences for the soldiers who were killed as a result of the war.
The two sides also assessed the current security and defense issues
of the country, emphasizing the important role the Army will play in
protecting the borders and ensuring the national security of Lebanon.
The delegation also expressed its support for the United Nations
cease-fire resolution and conveyed the ARF’s vehement opposition to the
proposed participation of Turkey as part of the mandated peacekeeping
force to be deployed in southern Lebanon.
Mur told the delegation that he was very familiar with the ARF
position and the concerns that the Armenian community has regarding
the deployment of Turkish forces in Lebanon. He emphasized the need
for popular Lebanese consent for any troop deployment in the country.