ARMENIAN PARTIES IN LEBANON ISSUE STATEMENT
Yerkir
12.05.2008 15:38
Yerevan (Yerkir) – Armenian political parties, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, the Ramkavar Azatakan party and the
Hnchak Social Democratic Party, held a meeting on May 9 in Beirut
in connection with the recent civil unrest, Shahan Gantaharian,
the chief editor of the Armenian-language newspaper Azdak, has said.
Gantaharian told Yerkir by the phone that those parties have called on
the conflicting sides to engage in a dialogue and stop the bloodshed.
The recent events remind of the civil war in Lebanon," Gantaharian
said.
"The clashes are mainly between the pro-government and the opposition
forces. The clashes have resulted in the opposition forces to take
control over the western districts of Beirut. The situation is tense
in the northern and mountainous parts of Lebanon where the opposition
has taken control too.
Clashes occur at the Syrian border as well and the highway to Damascus
often gets blocked." He added that the opposition has blocked the
roads to the airport, and all the flights have been delayed.
Gantaharyan said that the Armenian-populated districts of Beirut are
mainly unharmed. The roads to the Mecca region are blocked but the
Armenian village, Anchar, has been saved since no clashes occurred
there. He said that the Armenian air carrier, Armavia, has stopped
its flights to Beirut.
"The Armenian community has found itself in a new situation since
many were planning to travel to Armenia, and because of this, it was
impossible to celebrate the Shushi liberation anniversary. However,
before those events, the ARF youth organizations and committees managed
to hold several events dedicated to that date. Some cultural events
have been delayed, however," Gantaharian said.