Lebanon crisis poses new threats to Armenian communityNovember 10, 2017 - 10:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran contain new dangers for the Armenian community of Lebanon and Christians living in the Western Asian country in general. The United States, in turn, is calling for a de-escalation of tensions, following the resignation of Saad al-Hariri as Lebanon's prime minister while in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. State Department said it was "monitoring the situation very closely." State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said Thursday, November 9: "We would call for no kind of escalation of any sort of threats or something in that arena. But we also recognize that a government has the right to communicate with its own citizens." In a conversation with the Voice of America, mother Olga - the daughter of an Armenian mother and an Assyrian father - said that the Christian community of the Middle East has always suffered because of clashes of different forces. According to her, Christians suffered when the Iraqi Kurdistan declared independence and started their revolt against the government. She says that clashes against the Islamic State and other militant group lead to the destruction of Christian communities of the region. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |