Lebanon’s Tourism Minister urges respect for the special nature of Armenian community

Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism, Avedis Guidanian, emphasized on Sunday the importance of respecting the specificity of the Armenian community when dealing with the issue of a new electoral law that preserves the equity of representation, Lebanon’s reports.

Speaking to the Voice of Lebanon Radio, Guidanian said that the new electoral law would be approved by the majority of politicians.

The Minister stressed the importance of parliamentary elections, hoping that the Armenian deputies would get elected by Armenian votes.

He noted that Armenians have been marginalized over the past 25 years.

He also called on all politicians to issue an electoral law that ensures equity in representation to all Lebanese components.

“I warn against setting up new (electoral) divisions at the expense of Armenians,” he went on.

Guidanian said that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation would participate in the parliamentary elections whether the electoral law adopted was proportional or majoritarian.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS