SYRIAN EMBASSY STAFF COMPLAIN ABOUT AMBASSADOR’S ABUSE OF POWER AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The staff of the Syrian Embassy in Armenia addressed
the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian to inform him about
the inadequate behavior of the Ambassador of Syria in Armenia who
took office in August 2008, the Embassy told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The letter says,

" Dear Sir, We, the staff of the Syrian Embassy in Armenia would
like to draw your attention to an urgent issue, which has aroused
vast grievance among the employees of the Embassy.

When each of us was accepting their job at the Embassy of Syria in
Armenia, he or she was happy because they thought that they would
have to deal with serious diplomats from whom they could learn a great
deal, as well as would be able to meet their financial needs. It was
the case until 20 days ago.

Before then the working atmosphere at the embassy was mild and
friendly. The employees would work with the diplomats as with
friends. None of our rights was ever violated: the employees of the
embassy had never seen the Ambassador in underwear, female employees
had never received dating proposal from the Ambassador who threatened
them to fire immediately if they rejected. Shortly after working for
two weeks the new Ambassador dismissed the cook (female) working in
his house, as if upon her own resignation note .

The resignation note had not been written by the cook and the
reason could not be mentioned naturally. That immoral decision
was made knowing that the woman was the only one working in the
family. Moreover, just for the sake of diplomatic correctness the
author of the decision did not even wish to receive and talk to
that woman for the last time who had lost her job by a pen stroke,
who was highly virtuous, possessed higher education degree and who
fulfilled all her duties. The reason for dismissal was claimed to be
the absence of knowledge of Arabic.

Now most of the employees of the Embassy who are citizens of the
Republic of Armenia and have high sense of dignity are under the threat
of losing their jobs. Those who gave us our jobs at the embassy were
also ambassadors, and not knowing Arabic has had no role in losing
jobs so far.

We request considering all the information we have provided since it
is truthful. We have high hopes that friendly relationships between
our countries will never allow that Ambassador Abdul Hammed Sallum
change the Embassy staff due to personal needs.

We are confident that the phenomena of sexual harassment, abuse of
power, volatilities are considered unlawful, immoral and condemnable
in Syria as well and will in no way and NEVER honor that country.

We anticipate your urgent response to this matter and hope the matter
will be resolved in reasonable terms with no need to involve the
attention of local and foreign mass media.

Sincerely, Staff of Syrian Embassy in Armenia."