SENDING TROUPES TO LEBANON WOULD BE FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA
Support A1+!Turkey has made a decision about sending a peace-making mission to Lebanon. Let us remind you that the Armenian community had previously expressed concern in this connection. Armenia is not going to participate in the peace-making activities, speaker of the RA President Viktor Soghomonyan had informed late in August. “Armenia is not ready to send a peace-making mission to the conflict zone, especially as at present the UN has not yet established the mandate of the peace-making forces”, he underlined.
Ex Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-general Vagharshak Haroutyunyan finds peace-making missions important in today’s world. “Peace-making missions are a serious factor in the foreign policy of the country. Taking into account its chances, Armenia has to actively participate in peace-making activities. It is favorable for the country”, he said.
According to Vagharshak Haroutyunyan, in case of Lebanon we must take into account our relations with the country and the support Lebanon has shown after the Genocide granting asylum to those Armenians who escaped from Ottoman Turkey. Besides, “There can be serious developments in the region. It is the center which has the main stores of oil. That region is the center of the collision of the interests of super powers”.
Referring to the peace-making mission sent to Iraq, Vagharshak Haroutyunyan said that these are two completely different cases. «The Armenian forces in Iraq were considered part of the anti-Iraqi coalition, and conflict in Iraq was between the forces and the population. In these circumstances we created a dangerous situation for our community and with this step involved the community into the conflict. In case of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the sides are interested in the allocation of peace-making troupes. That is, in one case we have to do with war, and in the other – with a conflict».
The other ex Minister of Defense, Vazgen Manoukyan also thinks that the Armenian forces must participate in the peace-making activities in Lebanon. «I was against the Armenian troupes being sent to Iraq first because of the Armenian community, and then I did not find it a right war. In case of Lebanon I think we ought to do it as we have a large community there. Besides, what is taking place in the Arabian world is extremely important for us as we have an advantageous ground in the Arabian world. Even if we have victims, war is war; it won’t result in hostility with Israel or the Arabian world. On the contrary, it can contribute to closer connections. On the whole, I think it would be right to send troupes to Lebanon».
