Ya Libnan, Lebanon
May 5 2008

Tashnag Party: We are not part of the Free Patriotic Movement

Published: Monday, 5 May, 2008 @ 9:46 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

Beirut- Tashnag Party MP Hagop Pakradonian said the party plays a
"moderate role" within the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, but
is not part of the Free Patriotic Movement

Such a moderate role "helps in having relations with all the Lebanese
parties, especially the sides that wish to have relations with the
Tashnag," Pakradonian ( pictured ) added.

"But we cannot impose ourselves on sides that do not wish to meet us,"
he added, in an apparent reference to Saad Hariri’s Mustaqbal movement
that is allied with a rival Armenian group.

"We are not part of the Free Patriotic Movement. Our membership in the
Change and Reform Bloc and in the opposition reflects a moderate
role," he added.

Pakradonian made the remarks after meeting a delegation from the
Phalange Party which is headed by Lebanon’s former president Amin
Gemayel.

He said the talks with the Phalange party "fall in line with our call
for dialogue and moderation."

The Free Patriotic Movement is headed by former general Michel Aoun,
who also heads up the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, a key
member in the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition.

Aoun today called for overthrowing the government of Prime minister
Fouad Siniora and defended the spying of Hezbollah at the Beirut
International airport

Lebanon has three Armenian parties : Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Tashnag) and Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (Henshak) and Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party – Ramgavar

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