September 7, 2006 - 13:39 AMT
Turkey and Peacekeeping Incompatible Concepts
Turkey and peacekeeping are incompatible concepts and this is not only Armenian point of view, Chair of In Defense of Liberated Territories NGO, native of Lebanon Zhirayr Sefilyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, Lebanon has been under the Ottoman Empire for a long time and knows well who are Turks. "Adding to it the Turkish-Israeli alliance against the countries of the region, it will become clear that Lebanese resistance and the people of Lebanon will never recognize Turkey's right for participation in the UN peacekeeping operation," he noted.
Sefilyan underscored that instead of discussing the issue of Turkey's participation, Armenia should think of participation of Armenian peacekeepers in the mission in Lebanon. "I am sure that the people of Lebanon will take that step very positively. Authorities say the mandate is not made clear. Actually everything is made clear, specifically it is known that the peacekeepers will not have a right to take part in force operations to unarm Hezbollah. Participation of Armenia and other friendly countries to Lebanon will ensure that in the future Israel will not have an opportunity to lay illegal claims against Lebanon. In case this happens and the peacekeepers are ordered to unarm the Lebanese resistance, the withdrawal of the Armenian contingent will be a serious support to Lebanon," said Chair of In Defense of Liberated Territories.