Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in English
14 Sep 06

US MEDIATOR DETAILS CURRENT STATE OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH TALKS –
ARMENIAN AGENCY

The US mediator of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has said that it is
still possible to resolve the conflict in 2006, although neither
Azerbaijan, nor Armenia have agreed on the set of basic principles
proposed by the international mediators. The mediators seek to build
trust between the sides in the conflict in order to make progress on
issues such as the return of the occupied territories to Azerbaijan
or a self-determination vote in Nagornyy Karabakh , the US
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, told Armenia’s
Mediamax news agency. He also said that Armenia’s account with the
Millennium Challenge Corporation may be closed if the 2007
parliamentary election is "deeply problematic". The following is the
text of Matthew Bryza’s exclusive interview with Mediamax in English;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:

[Correspondent] Is the existing "window of opportunities" to resolve
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict this year still open, or it is going to
shut down very soon?

[Bryza] As the election campaign approaches in Armenia, the window of
opportunities will begin to narrow, but it is definitely open right
now. There is a lot of room now for creativity on the both sides, and
we see this by the example of the Azerbaijani sponsored resolution in
the United Nations regarding the joint efforts to address the
problems created by fires.

Basic principles of settlement

[Correspondent] Are you going to discuss some new ideas or elements
with the sides to make the settlement possible?

[Bryza] The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have proposed a set of
basic principles and we are still waiting to hear what the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan will have to say. It is really up to the
presidents themselves as to whether they would like to change those
basic principles.

[Correspondent] After the Kocharian-Aliyev meeting in Bucharest in
early June the Armenian side is constantly urging Azerbaijan to
return to the proposal that is on the negotiation table. Does it mean
that one of the sides has refused the previously agreed principles?

[Bryza] It is clear to every observer that neither side agrees to the
basic principles. If they did, both sides would stand up, or one side
would stand up and say – "we fully accept these basic principles".
Nobody is saying that. Some people are saying – "we have problems
with the principles", some people say – "well, in principle we accept
them, but we have a few minor changes". Nobody is saying – we accept
them.

[Correspondent] One of the main principles is related to holding a
referendum in Nagorno Karabakh. Do you believe that Azerbaijan is
really ready to accept the idea of a referendum?

[Bryza] I think they are sincere about pursuing the concept of what
they don’t just call a "referendum vote". I mean in the document,
containing the basic principles, phrasing is the following –
"referendum vote/population vote". So, the Azerbaijani side is saying
that it is talking not about a referendum vote, but a population
vote. And this is because of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which
requires that if there is referendum, then all citizens of Azerbaijan
must participate in it.

I guess, maybe the Armenian side really doesn’t want to see that sort
of a vote that covers the entire population of Azerbaijan. So we have
to find a clever way to devise the voting process that addresses the
interests of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

[Correspondent] But it seems that the Armenian side doesn’t believe
that Azerbaijan is sincere in its readiness to hold a referendum and
that’s why the Armenians decide to keep the Kalbacar region as a
"deposit".

[Bryza] You identified properly one of the key questions. Yes, the
Azerbaijani side would like to make sure that all seven territories
are returned. It is hard for me to predict how quickly or whether
that particular question could be fixed. My job as the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair is to be creative and optimistic and always looking
for a way forward. If I believed that the process was hopeless I
wouldn’t be wasting my time.

[Bryza] I think that the issue of when Kalbacar will be returned
depends on how quickly the two sides will begin building trust in
each other. I don’t know when this will happen, but the whole essence
of the confidence building measures we are talking about now with
regard to the fires is to begin building that very trust.

When a climate is created in which some degree of trust is
reestablished, it will be absolutely realistic to talk about the
return of Kalbacar to Azerbaijan in return for other elements like
the referendum vote/population vote or guarantees on Lachin corridor
that Armenia seeks.

Destruction of monuments

[Correspondent] This March in Yerevan you called a "tragedy" the
destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery in Nakhichevan,
Azerbaijan. Don’t you think that absence of a strong and consolidated
international reaction towards such barbaric actions seriously
hinders the confidence building between the sides?

[Bryza] The destruction of those thumb stones was truly a tragedy.
But I think that proper channel to address such cases is not the
United States government, or the OSCE Minsk Group. The proper channel
in such cases is UNESCO. So we would like to see Armenia and
Azerbaijan with regard to its claims of cultural heritage being
violated, appeal to the proper channel, which is UNESCO. And we would
be very supportive in that process.

Speaking about the problem in a broader context, we need to make sure
that the rhetoric coming out from the region is completely free of
hatred and threats to use force, because there is simply no military
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict now and it won’t be in ten,
fifteen, thirty or fifty years.

[Correspondent] If there is no progress achieved this year, how do
the mediators plan to work in 2007, which is an election year in
Armenia?

[Bryza] The mediators issued a statement this summer saying that the
OSCE Minsk Group will reconsider how active the mediators would be
depending upon the response they received from the presidents. So far
we haven’t received the formal response. So if we go to the election
period and the parties say that they would like the mediators to
continue their efforts, then of course we will continue.

Bryza surprised by Nagorno Karabakh "constructive stance"

[Correspondent] You have visited Nagorno Karabakh for the first time
recently. What are your impressions?

[Bryza] It is hard to have an accurate impression about the Nagorno
Karabakh before you go there. It is a breath-taking beautiful and
gorgeous place.

The thing that didn’t surprise me was the attitude of people and the
leadership of Nagorno Karabakh with their deep pride and the sense of
having arrived at what they deeply believe will be a final position.
I was pleasantly surprised by their sober and constructive stance,
their willingness to talk and to think together with us how to move
the peace process. I felt myself very comfortable and welcomed there
and it was a nice feeling.

[Correspondent] Do you think it is correct to compare the Nagorno
Karabakh with other frozen conflicts?

[Bryza] I believe that each conflict is a unique. We categorically
reject any notion that there is a universal precedent that could be
set in Kosovo, or anywhere else. Each conflict has its unique
elements and Nagorno Karabakh is definitely different.

[Correspondent] How do you access the cooperation between the
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group?

[Bryza] Although I am new in the Minsk Group, but I can already say
that the level of the cooperation is among the highest that I’ve
experienced in my nearly 20 years in diplomacy. Even if we had begun
the process of discussion from different prospective, based upon our
governments’ views, we have been able to come up with a shared
position so far every time.

Armenia’s energy problems

[Correspondent] Earlier this year you and U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State Daniel Fried indicated the interest of the United States
towards the issues of providing Armenia’s energy security. In
particular, Daniel Fried said that Armenia’s desire to have a new
nuclear power station will be examined in Washington. Did you already
have some discussions regarding this topic? And do you believe that
Armenia might have some involvement in the Trans-Caspian pipeline
project?

[Bryza] Armenia indeed finds itself in a difficult geographic
position when it comes to energy. We have talked a bit in Washington
about the ambitions expressed by Armenia to develop a new nuclear
power plant. That is something we don’t oppose and we certainly want
to help Armenia to find investors and the right technologies. And it
would be great if the power generated by this plant will be exported,
especially to Georgia and, after the resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, also to other countries of the region.

With regard to the pipelines, our ambition and our hope is to have
some sort of a link of a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Armenia.
Such a link will demonstrate that the serious conflict is over. That
is definitely something we would like to see.

[Correspondent] You often meet Turkish officials. Do you discuss the
issue of Turkish-Armenian relations with them and do you see any
opportunities to mark some progress?

[Bryza] I always discuss Turkish-Armenian relations with my
counterparts in Ankara.Yes, I see some room for improvement. There is
a set of proposals on the table for these committees to begin talks –
one about the history and the horrors of 1915 and one to talk about
the practical diplomatic and economic cooperation. United States
would really like to see both of those committees begin functioning –
to address both historical and moral questions as well as the
practical issues of diplomacy and commerce.

[Correspondent] Do you mean that the second committee might be formed
on the intergovernmental level?

[Bryza] Yes, that’s right, the intergovernmental committee. The first
one could be broader – involving historians, philosophers, academics,
etc.

US aid and Armenian election

[Correspondent] Armenia will be having parliamentary elections in
2007. Earlier this year there were talks that the Millennium
Challenge Compact might be suspended if the elections fail to meet
the international standards. Does this mean that for this time the
U.S. is not going to accept the outcome of the elections if they are
not free and fair?

[Bryza] Democratic reform is on the top of our agenda not only with
Armenia, but also with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia and
Central Asia. I can’t predict what will happen in Armenia, but we are
working hard through our Embassy in Yerevan with the Armenian
government and the civil society to do whatever we can to ensure that
the upcoming elections will be as free and fair as possible.

I am not going to make any threats about the Millennium Challenge
Account, but the reality is that we don’t decide who is in and out of
the program. There are indicators provided by the World Bank and by
the Freedom House, and it is theoretically possible that if the
elections are deeply problematic, those indicators will change and
Armenia could no longer meet the criteria of Millennium Challenge
Account and in such a case we will be obligated to suspend the
program. But it’s not a threat on my part, I am just stating a fact.
Our goal is to do everything we can with Armenia to avoid any chance
of that happening.

Ventura County Star, CA

Nobody said world democracy would be easy
By George Sjostrom
September 16, 2006

In a recent interview conducted by the Wall Street Journal’s Paul
Gigot, President Bush came up with a truism that is the cornerstone of
his personal philosophy, "Democracy is not easy."

Bush points out that the road to our own Constitution was not smooth
and easy. His freedom agenda calls for the spread of democracy to the
peoples of the world. That hasn’t been easy, either.

The Mideast, in particular, is run by a group of regimes empowered by
resentment and hatred, and by leaders without conscience who are
willing to fan the fires of that hatred with death and blood. The
president said, "The only way to make sure your grandchildren are
protected is to win the battle of ideas, is to defeat the ideology of
hatred and resentment."

Trying to create a coherent foreign policy for the United States is
like playing hopscotch in a minefield. Our presidents have tried for
years to establish coalitions of common belief with nation after
nation. The countries of the world awaken to a new kind of turmoil
each morning, and they go to bed each night with a renewed indecision.

One thing is certain, the dislike and distrust of American dominance
is growing worldwide. Take Russia, for example. After 10 years of
belief that Russia was gradually moving toward the West, inching
toward democracy, we now see President Vladimir Putin increasing his
personal powers, clamping down on dissent and freedom of information,
and moving toward a re-establishment of the Russian Union, this time
to include Iran and Iraq.

Vice President Dick Cheney has now accused the Kremlin of using its
energy resources as "tools of intimidation and blackmail." The
hoped-for chance that Russia might eventually adopt a pro-Western
foreign policy is all but dead.

In Iraq, we were momentarily elated to see millions of Iraqis hold up
their purple ink-stained fingers to signify their delight in finally
participating in a free election. Toppling a Sunni dictator seemed to
offer them a release from tyranny. But we underestimated the
difficulty in toppling an Arab police state.

We also underestimated the newly distorted influence of Iran on the
Iraq transition. In 2005, there was a political shift in Iran, for the
worse, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became president. Iran always has been
one of the Muslim world’s most sophisticated societies. A major
portion of its population was comfortable with a pro-American
view. But under Ahmadinejad, all that has changed.

Iran now proclaims an unfettered right to nuclear development,
threatens to annihilate Israel, and continues to preach hatred toward
the United States. Iran has signed a $100 billion agreement with
China for natural gas development, and is trying to negotiate trade
deals with France, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Greece, Australia,
Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Armenia, Norway, Kuwait,
Turkmenistan, and, of course, Iraq. Small wonder that U.N. sanctions
are meaningless.

Although much of the public, at home as well as abroad, are reluctant
to admit it, the radical Muslim brotherhood has developed a love for
violence. In training camps all over the world, these jihadists are
training youngsters, preaching that it is there duty to kill infidels
in the name of God, and to sacrifice their own lives in the process.

Their miserable lives on Earth can be traded for eternal
happiness. This avalanche of terror is not going to stop. For every
terrorist killed or captured, hundreds more are spawned. In the fight
against terror, meaningful foreign alliances are hard to find. The
problem is ours, whether we are comfortable with it or not. It
certainly can’t be resolved by frivolous campaign slogans.

Bush has chosen a courageous road, one that most politicians are
afraid to walk. He is willing to recognize that we cannot have liberty
without limits, that we cannot have freedom without responsibility.

Most of us are unwilling to address head-on the immense problem of
radical Muslimism. They have become radicals because they are willing
to promise rewards greater than life itself, and in the process they
reject the very civil liberties that gave them a voice in the first
place. George W. Bush is correct. To back away from terrorism is to
encourage it. If we believe in freedom through responsibility, then we
have no choice but to stay the course.

– George Sjostrom is a Simi Valley freelance writer. His column
appears biweekly in The Star. His e-mail address is [email protected].

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian Leader Noted Need for Development of Foreign Economic Ties
16.09.2006 13:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian yesterday met
with heads of the diplomatic corps of Armenia in foreign countries,
reports the Press Office of the Armenian leader. Kocharian noted the
importance of those meetings, adding that they provide an opportunity
to make certain corrections in development of Armenia’s foreign
policy. He said more activity should be displayed in promoting foreign
policy priorities and emphasized the importance of work to extend
economic ties. During the meeting the interlocutors touched upon the
Armenia-Diaspora Forum.

Kocharian said that a number of issues, the solving of which will
allow working with more coordination in the future, are on the agenda
of the Forum.

A1+

"HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE COURT OF CASSATION
[01:46 pm] 15 September, 2006

The International Organization `Human Rights Watch’ which struggles
for the protection of humanm rights is more than 70 countries has sent
a letter to Armenia, in particular to the President of the RA Court of
Cassation, Hovhannes Manoukyan.

Your Honor,

Please accept my greetings on behalf of Human Rights Watch. As you may
know, Human Rights Watch is an independent, international human rights
organization that advocates respect for human rights in some seventy
countries worldwide, including Armenia.

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding allegations of
torture and inhuman and degrading treatment relating to the case of
Razmik Sargsian, Musa Serobian and Arayik Zalian, convicted of
murdering two of their fellow conscript soldiers. The Court of
Cassation received a request to hear an appeal in this case on
September 11, 2006.

On May 13, 2005, the Syunik Marz Court of first instance sentenced
Razmik Sargsian, Musa Serobian and Arayik Zalian to fifteen years of
imprisonment. On May 30, 2006, the Court of Appeals changed the
sentence to life imprisonment.

During a recent mission to Armenia, Human Rights Watch collected
information about the case. Taking no position on the defendants’
innocence or guilt, we are profoundly concerned that the verdicts of
both courts were largely based on the confession of one of the
defendants, Razmik Sargsian. There are reasonable grounds to believe
that his confession was made following subjection to torture and other
cruel treatment. Sargsian stated first to his lawyer and then later in
court that after he had been initially questioned as a witness in the
case on April 19, 2004, he was subjected to several days of brutal
beatings and psychological pressure by the military procuracy
investigators, as a result of which he confessed to the crime and
incriminated Serobian and Zalian as his accomplices. Sargsian states
that the investigators handcuffed his hands behind his back, suspended
him from his hands and beat him in this position. They also threatened
him with rape. In a video tape of the confession, Sargsian’s face was
swollen and bruised, strongly suggesting that he had suffered
ill-treatment prior to making the confession.

Later, during the pretrial investigation and at the trial Sargsian
stated his innocence saying that he had been forced under physical and
psychological pressure into making the confession. The other
defendants, Serobian and Zalian, also told the court they had been
tortured during interrogations by investigating officers, and they
never pleaded guilty. The Syunik Marz court, however, did not
investigate the allegations of ill-treatment and denied the defense’s
motions that were introduced to substantiate the torture
complaints. For instance, the court refused to grant the defense’s
motion to do an examination of the wooden floor in the investigation
room in which the men were questioned. According to the defense, the
floor has blood stains as result of the torture of Sargsian, Serobian
and Zalian. The court also refused to examine medical documents from
the hospital where Sargsian was taken during his hunger strike which
indicate a variety of medical problems, some of which appear to be the
result of beatings.

In addition, in its verdict the court did not address numerous
contradictions in the prosecution’s case, including those related to
the date, hour, place, and method of the killing.

The defendants’ lawyer has submitted an application to the European
Court of Human Rights alleging numerous violations of the European
Convention on Human Rights with respect to the defendants.

International treaties to which Armenia is a party, including the
European Convention on Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
prohibit the use of torture. These treaties also emphasize that
statements made under torture cannot be invoked as evidence, except
against a person accused of torture. International law also obliges
states to guarantee defendants’ right to a fair trial and to ensure
that any criminal proceedings areconducted in accordance with
fundamental due process requirements. The failure to uphold these
standards would constitute serious breaches of Armenia’s international
obligations.

Your honor, we hope that the Court of Cassation, will be fully mindful
as it reviews the case that it does so in accordance with Armenia’s
binding human rights obligations.

Human Rights Watch believes that it is very important that given the
credible allegations of torture in this case, and Armenia’s
obligations to do so, that a prompt investigation into the allegations
is ordered, and that all measures are put in place to ensure that any
conviction based on evidence coerced under torture does not stand.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter,

Sincerely,

Holly Cartner

Executive Director

Europe and Central Asia Division

TWELVE OFFICIALS ARRESTED

A1+
[06:41 pm] 14 September, 2006

Twelve people were arrested in connection with criminal case against
registration of real estate right via using false receipts. There
are high-rank officials among them who pocketed 1, 5 milliard AMD
from ordinary citizens.

Eight more citizens are under search, among them representatives of
state establishments. Sona Truzyan, press secretary of RA General
Prosecutor’s Office, affirmed this information. She said preliminary
investigation revealed 200 cases. As a result of the investigation
they learned that 1, 5 milliard AMD taken by citizens wasn’t entered
the state budget.

According to our refined data, a group of sly officials including
the names of ordinary workers, chief specialist and even the heads of
Cadastre sub-departments, came to an agreement to fraud certificates
and embezzle great sums of money in this way. As a result of it,
citizens or legal figures who tried to register their property in the
Cadastre were cheated by the crafty officials who suggested making
bank payment for them. Thus, only 1/3 taken from the citizens was
entered into state budget. The rest of the money the officials put
in their pockets. By the way, the receipts of "Areksinbank" and
"Armkhnaybank" were falsified.

R. Eghiazaryan, head of the Davitashen Cadastre department,
A. Sargsyan, chief specialist of the Erebuni registration department,
A. Khachatryan, chief specialist of legal department of the Ministry
of Energy, H. Ghambaryan, operator of "ArmPost" LTD delivery service
as well as Armen Zakaryan, head of the coordinating department of
Cadastre State Committee are among the crafty officials.

The investigation is under way. The above-mentioned people are accused
according to the 1st provision of Article 178 of the RA Criminal Code
and 1st provision of Article 203 for the embezzlement of great sums
of money and forgery of documents. They will probably be sentenced
to 9-year imprisonment.

WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM OF ARMENIA TAKES 2ND PLACE IN TEAM STRUGGLE OF EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Youth Weightlifting
Championship finished in the city of Palermo, Italy, on September
10. Representative of Armenia Sevak Sahakian (94 kg, Kasakh) took the
2nd place with 350 kg result of biathlon. He was awarded silver medal
in the pull exercise with 158 kg, gold medal in the push exercise with
192 kg, and won silver medal in biathlon. The 4-people team of Armenia
took the 2nd place in the team struggle with the number of medals.

"IRALI" REPUBLICAN YOUTH MOVEMENT BLAMED VISIT OF AZERBAIJANI YOUTH GROUP TO ARMENIA
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006

Today, on September 11, in the Baku International Press-Centre,
the Republican Youth Movement "Irali" has held a press-conference
devoted to the subject "Attitude toward Visit of a Group

of Azerbaijani Youth to Armenia". All participants of the
press-conference blamed the visit of Azerbaijani youth to Armenia,Trend
reports.

It should be mentioned that, a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
youth took place in the youth camp "Gugark" within the activity of the
organization "Helsinki Civil Initiative". The initiative was named "The
Camp of Mutual Trust". Representatives of so-called Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic also participated in the arrangement. The Azerbaijani
delegation to the camp included Rena Yuzbasheva, local coordinator
of Helsinki Civil Assembly in Azerbaijan, Fidan Mammadova, journalist
Seymur Baydjan, Ismayil Abdulazimov, Khamis Massisov, and others.

In their speeches, founders of the Republican Youth Movement "Irali"
Farkhad Mammadov, Jeyhun Osmanli, Roya Talibova pointed out that
such trips contradict to Azerbaijan`s national interests. They also
pointed out that such arrangements cannot have a positive influence
on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue settlement.

PREGNANT AUTHOR FACES CHARGE OF ‘INSULTING TURKISHNESS’ IN NOVEL

Buffalo News, NY
Sept 10 2006

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) – Elif Shafak, one of Turkey’s leading authors,
is about to have a baby – and go on trial.

The reason for this strange conjunction of joy and foreboding
is her new novel, which has exposed her to a charge of "insulting
Turkishness" because it touches on one of the most disputed episodes
of her country’s history – the massacres of Armenians during the
final years of the Ottoman Empire.

A University of Arizona literature professor, the 35-year-old Shafak
divides her time between Tucson and Istanbul. She sought a postponement
of her trial, set for Sept. 21, until after her first child is born
but was refused. She could face three years in prison.

The case has broad ramifications, highlighting a rising wave of
Turkish nationalism and the whole question of whether Turkey, a
Western ally and NATO member, should be admitted to the liberal,
democratic European Union – something the Bush administration supports.

AZERI & ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING NOT NECESSARY – MINISTER
Author: S.Aliyev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006

On September 12, Armenian Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan is meeting
with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen in Paris. The Azeri Foreign Minister
is then meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on September
13 in London, Trend reports quoting Elmar Mamedyarov, Azeri Foreign
Minister.

Mamedyarov said it is not necessary to meet with Armenian
counterpart. "First, we should meet with the Co-Chairmen and discuss
ideas", he outlined.

Speaking on new proposals on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Mamedyarov said the work with the Co-Chairmen would go on as usual.

"We will try to work out the basic principles and I am very concerned
with the Co-Chairmen’s opinions, their proposals and how to compromise
on this issue", he added.

ROUNDTABLE ON "ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN LEBANON: PROS AND CONS" HELD IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
09.09.2006 11:49

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
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.

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.