WE ARE REDUNDANT IN IRAQ, AND NECESSARY IN LEBANON

Lragir.am
06 Sept 06

The question of participation in the UN peacemaking mission in the
south of Lebanon sparked heated debates among the political sets and
experts of almost every country. It is interesting, however, that
the Armenian politicians and the Diasporan lobby are interested in
the participation of Turkey in the peacemaking mission rather than
Armenia. Meanwhile, Armenia’s participation is also an important
problem, which surprisingly did not become a subject of debates, it
rather got an unambiguous answer of the government. The decision of
Armenia is wrong, thinks Vahan Shirkhanyan, who answered the questions
of the Lragir on this topic.

Lragir: Mr. Shirkhanyan, another question added to the foreign
political affairs of Armenia, namely our participation in the UN
peacemaking mission in the south of Lebanon. The question is important
since there is a large Armenian community in Lebanon.

Hence, the question occurs whether Armenia should participate in
the peacemaking mission for the sake of the community or refuse to
participate for the sake of the community. Official Yerevan thinks
it should not participate.

Vahan Shirkhanyan: Kocharyan stated through his speaker that the
mandate is not definite, besides, the participation of Armenia may
be harmful for the Armenians of Lebanon. None of the reasons is
political. First, there were fundamental discussions on the mandate,
and the military units of some countries are already in Lebanon. In
addition, the multi-nation force in Iraq does not have a mandate
and Armenia willingly takes part in the worst disgrace of the modern
history, when a sovereign state is being destroyed, the population
is being slaughtered, the law of nations is being neglected. What is
Armenia doing there? Apparently, the Bush-Blair campaign failed, and
sooner or later they will have to account. Their operation against
Iraq fully "complies" with the definition of aggression in the UN
Resolution 3314.

Lragir: What should Armenia do then?

Vahan Shirkhanyan: Armenia should immediately withdraw from Iraq and
take part in the legal peacemaking effort in Lebanon under the auspices
of the United Nations. Armenia has national interests here – the
large-scale war in the Near East is a direct threat for Armenia. The
Lebanese-Armenian relations were set up and developed in an atmosphere
of friendship, confidence, mutual assistance. Besides, the Armenian
community in Lebanon had a great role in the entire continent bridging
the Armenian communities. Today, like the rest of the country,
the Armenians of Lebanon need protection, and Armenia must take
part in the peacemaking mission with 1000-2000 soldiers. It is true
that unlike Iraq this mission does not enable Kocharyan to "settle"
relations with Bush, but it will be absolutely justified in terms of
political and national questions, regional peace. Hopefully, the UN
will not start fulfilling the will of one of the conflict parties, and
the peacemakers will not be tasked to disarm Hezbollah and close the
Syrian-Lebanese border, otherwise the people of Lebanon, including the
Armenians will be having serious problems with security. Disarmament
and borders are the internal affairs of the Lebanese state, and it
applied to the UN asking to defend it from the Israeli aggression.

Lragir: Mr. Shirkhanyan, most experts connect the Israeli military
action against Hezbollah with the possible U.S. campaign against
Iran. Do you think the U.S. campaign against Iran is possible?

Vahan Shirkhanyan: It is always the strong party that aspired to settle
a political dispute by military means. However, this war will mark
the end of the epoch of the world rule of the United States. At least.

Lragir: And how will the U.S. – Iran clash affect Armenia?

Vahan Shirkhanyan: It will be destructive. Today it is increasingly
becoming apparent that the South Caucasus is repeating the Balcans.

In case sanctions are applied against Iran the fundamental presence
of NATO will be necessary in the South Caucasus. Immediately after
Bryza the secretary general of NATO announces that NATO is ready
to assume the implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security
Council on the settlement of the problem of Karabakh. And it implies
destruction of a defense system, which has been sustaining balance
for over 12 years, great moves of Armenians and Azerbaijanis by a
Yugoslavian scenario. Hence, Armenia remains in the sphere of dangerous
developments, and people who are supposed to attend to the problems
of national security are fighting for the throne, announcing on the
run that the return of the liberated areas would not be harmful for
the security of Karabakh. If this goes on, soon we will be able to
see the crash of the Armenian diplomacy.