LEBANESE-ARMENIANS DEMAND NOT TO INCLUDE TURKISH FORCES IN PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/08/2006
In a message to the international mass media Armenian deputies of
the Lebanese parliament, Jean Aghasapian, Yeghik Tchertcherian,
Hagop Gasartchian and Serge Tursargisian, have praised the actions
of the Lebanese government and its head Fouad Siniora underscoring
the latter’s ability to defend the state’s utmost interests in
difficult conditions. In the meantime, on behalf of the Lebanese
Armenian community deputies called on the government not to include
Turkish forces among the international peacekeeping contingent bound
to deploy in the south. They emphasized that Lebanon is a country
where different communities coexist, and everyone has to respect
each community’s feelings. In this regard, the deputies reminded that
Lebanon’s Armenian community was formed due to the Armenian Genocide
carried out by Turkey in 1915. Actions of the Turkish army have left
cruel memories in the Armenian people and that inspires distrust
towards Turkish soldiers. In view of this circumstance, the deputies
demand that the government respects feelings of the Lebanese-Armenians
and not to include Turkish forces among the peacekeepers.