SENDING TROOPES TO LEBANON WOULD BE FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA

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[08:23 pm] 06 September, 2006

Turkey has made a decision about sending a peace-making mission
to Lebanon. Let us remind you that the Armenian community had
previously expressed concern in this connection. Armenia is not going
to participate in the peace-making activities, speaker of the RA
President Viktor Soghomonyan had informed late in August. "Armenia
is not ready to send a peace-making mission to the conflict zone,
especially as at present the UN has not yet established the mandate
of the peace-making forces", he underlined.

Ex Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-general Vagharshak Haroutyunyan
finds peace-making missions important in today’s world. "Peace-making
missions are a serious factor in the foreign policy of the
country. Taking into account its chances, Armenia has to actively
participate in peace-making activities. It is favorable for the
country", he said.

According to Vagharshak Haroutyunyan, in case of Lebanon we must take
into account our relations with the country and the support Lebanon has
shown after the Genocide granting asylum to those Armenians who escaped
from Ottoman Turkey. Besides, "There can be serious developments in the
region. It is the center which has the main stores of oil. That region
is the center of the collision of the interests of super powers".

Referring to the peace-making mission sent to Iraq, Vagharshak
Haroutyunyan said that these are two completely different cases. "The
Armenian forces in Iraq were considered part of the anti-Iraqi
coalition, and conflict in Iraq was between the forces and the
population. In these circumstances we created a dangerous situation
for our community and with this step involved the community into the
conflict. In case of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the sides
are interested in the allocation of peace-making troupes. That is, in
one case we have to do with war, and in the other – with a conflict".

The other ex Minister of Defense, Vazgen Manoukyan also thinks that
the Armenian forces must participate in the peace-making activities
in Lebanon. "I was against the Armenian troupes being sent to Iraq
first because of the Armenian community, and then I did not find it
a right war. In case of Lebanon I think we ought to do it as we have
a large community there.

Besides, what is taking place in the Arabian world is extremely
important for us as we have an advantageous ground in the Arabian
world. Even if we have victims, war is war; it won’t result in
hostility with Israel or the Arabian world. On the contrary, it can
contribute to closer connections. On the whole, I think it would be
right to send troupes to Lebanon".