news.am, Armenia
April 24 2010

Sargsyan’s decision `brave’: Lebanese Armenians

12:58 / 04/24/2010Armenian community of Lebanon welcomes President
Sargsyan’s decision to suspend the ratification of Armenia-Turkey
Protocols. Lebanese Armenians hope that the accord would `be dropped
altogether,’ Beirut-based The Daily Star reports. Local
representatives of ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Ramkavar parties say they
opposed the Protocols from the start.

`The suspension is a first step, but the most important thing is to
stop the protocols entirely,’ the source quotes ARF Dashnaktsutyun
member Vera Yacoubian. In his turn, Avedis Dakessian from Ramkavar
party labeleld Sargsyan’s move as `brave.’

According to the source, Armenians are concerned over the expansion of
ties between Turkey and Lebanon. They warn Lebanese government not to
confide in Turkey, saying it should consider `the feelings of the
Armenians living in Lebanon.’

Today, local Armenian community members will gather in Bourj Hammoud
to pay tribute to the memory of Genocide victims. Mourning service
will be held at the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate in Antelias,
followed by an address of Catholicos Aram I.