PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
0033 Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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September 8, 2006
ACNIS Considers Prospects of Armenian Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy roundtable entitled "Armenian
Peacekeepers in Lebanon?: Pros and Cons" to discuss the viability,
against the backdrop of new geopolitical realities, of deploying an
Armenian peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon.
ACNIS director of research Stiopa Safarian greeted the audience
with opening remarks and deliberated on Armenia’s potential role in
the shaping of the Greater Middle East. "What occurs in the Middle
East today has certainly passed well beyond the perimeters of the
Arab-Israeli conflict, and involves new realities that are forming
in the region. The foreign policy of Armenia cannot treat the current
happenings with indifference. In the interests of European civilization
and security, in the spirit of peace, and as a sign of traditional
warm relations with the Arab world, this policy should play a unique
role in the strengthening of regional peace. Hence, a peacekeeping
mission to southern Lebanon, where thousands of Armenians live,
provides one such opportunity," Safarian mentioned.
During his policy intervention, Yerevan State University lecturer
and former Ambassador Davit Hovhannisian examined developments
in the Middle East and Armenia’s position on them. What were the
consequences of the Israeli-Hezbollah confrontation? In Hovhannisian’s
view, the recent conflict weakened the US platform on this issue; it
allowed Iran the chance to temporarily divert the world’s attention
from its nuclear plans; Syria could not prove that this war was an
outcome of the withdrawal of its military units from Lebanon; and the
myth about the invincibility of the Israeli army and intelligence
disintegrated. "Given that we have a very large Armenian community
and a Catholicosate in Lebanon, Armenia cannot monitor the war there
without interest or concern," Hovhannisian emphasized. He also added
that Armenia’s participation in the peacekeeping mission would bring
nothing but positive dividends to the country.
In his address, Armenia’s former Minister of Defense Lieutenant General
Vagharshak Harutiunian reflected on the military aspect in the possible
dispatch of Armenian peacekeepers to Lebanon. The general likewise is
confident that "Armenia must absolutely partake in the peace force,
but it has to determine the correct means of participation. This is
our duty since we have historically-profound and strong relations
with, and a huge Armenian community in, Lebanon." Harutiunian also
noted that the presence of Armenian peacekeepers in that country is
in Israel’s interests as well because this would prevent the Israeli
towns from becoming targets of missile attacks from that area. In
General Harutiunian’s view, this mission is beneficial for the two
countries, for Hezbollah, and for the Armenian community of Lebanon.
In his assessment of the Arab-Israeli conflict, political
board secretary Edward Antinian of the Liberal Progressive Party
underlined Israel’s right to live peacefully and exist in its historic
homeland. Before sending troops to Lebanon, he said, it is imperative
to consider our interests and clarify our mandate. "In order not
to damage our country’s reputation in the end result, multilateral
discussions and debates as well as a general consensus are in order
prior to making such a responsible decision," Antinian noted.
The participants in the ensuing discussion included director Alexander
Iskandarian of the Caucasus Media Institute; political analysts Tatul
Hakobian and Davit Petrosian; Egyptian charge d’affaires Abdelmohsen
Said Shafey; Ruzan Khachaturian of the People’s Party; Anahit Aghoyan
of the National Democratic Union Party; Gevorg Kalenchian of the
Heritage Party; lecturer Yevgeniy Ponomariov from the Moscow State
University of Economics, Computer Science and Statistics; professors
Haik Demoyan and Haik Kocharian of Yerevan State University; Armen
Aghayan from the "Defense of Liberated Territories" social initiative;
and several others. The absolute majority of expressed opinions
were in favor of sending Armenian peacekeepers to Lebanon, while the
continued absence of invited representatives from Armenia ‘s relevant
ministries bespoke the country’s official position on the matter.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS
serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy
challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet
world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic
thinking and a wider understanding of the new global environment. In
2006, the Center focuses primarily on civic education, conflict
resolution, and applied research on critical domestic and foreign
policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit