ARMENIANS DO NOT WANT WAR, NA SPEAKER STATES

news.am
April 12 2010
Armenia

The Armenian people does not want war, but if Armenians are forced
to war, they are ready to struggle with dignity, Speaker of the RA
Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan stated at an official dinner given in
his honor by Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri.

The press service of the RA Parliament informed NEWS.am that Speaker
Abrahamyan began his speech by quoting Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese
American artist, poet, and writer: ""You may forget the one with whom
you have laughed, but never the one with whom you have wept."

According to Abrahamyan, the words faithfully reflect the
Armenian-Lebanese relations. "For many of our nationals that survived
the Armenian Genocide in Turkey early last century this hospitable land
proved to be not only refuge, but also a native home, which enabled
them not only to save their life, but also grow a new generation. This
is evidence of the Lebanese nation’s civilized position and of its
right attitude. That was reflected by the Lebanese Parliament’s
recognizing and denouncing the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
on May 12, 2000, when you were Speaker of the Parliament," Abrahamyan
said.

Speaker Abrahamyan also pointed out that Lebanon is an Arab country
Armenia has signed a friendship agreement with.

Speaking of regional problems, Speaker Abrahamyan, pointed out that
the President and other officials of Azerbaijan make regular bellicose
statements. "The Armenian people does not want war, but if we are
forced to war, we are ready to defend our dignity," Abrahamyan said.