After reading the response letter from ambassador Ghougassian, the response letter from Markar, then the response from the ambassador and then a Yahoo search of who the ambassador is, I felt compelled to write him to see if he could shed some light on the flip side of the deployment situation, since so far, he is really the only person I know that is in favor of sending Armenian troops to Iraq.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous writing to him, as here I am corresponding with a former US ambassador with a PhD and is a professor at San Diego University. On top of this he is old enough to be my father.

None the less, for the sake of my own curiosity I had to write to see what he thought of my views. I was also keeping in mind that the MFA felt that what I has written in the past, which was bordering on a threat towards Vartan O. and those in the Armenian government responsible for deployment if harm came to any Armenains of Iraq, was welcomed as “useful and valuable.” But now I was writing to a man who found the things that Markar wrote, which I agreed with and kind of fall in line with what I’m saying as “obstinate color blind judgement.” Anyway, enough said, here is my letter to the ambassador, I hope he does not deem me as being some radical communist or something worse:

From:ara_manoogian@yahoo.com
To:arabgulf@ix.netcom.com
Sent:Fri, 5 Nov 2004 02:43:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject:Re: Oppose Armenian Deployment to Iraq.


Dear Ambassador Ghougassian,

Thank you for writing back and advising me to use a search engine for answers to my question for you. Boy did it work. Did you know that you have a whopping 66 documents connected to your name, where mine has only 27, many of which seem to belong to someone other than me.

I skimmed over a few documents and your October 2nd interview with the NC Times. It clearly stated who you are and what work you have done in the past. Very impressive. You don’t by chance appear in a book of famous Armenians do you? If you don’t, you should.

Just a quick one line on who I am so you understand better who is writing you. My name is Ara Manoogian. I was born in Pasadena, California and have moved to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) a few years back, to partake in the development of the Armenian nation in terms of fairness and the rule of law. No, I am not an attorney, but a security consultant who did well for himself and went into early retirement at the age of 34.

In the message you sent, I really can’t comment much in terms of your analysis of future developments in Iraq and if in fact 2 years from now it will be an economic powerhouse in the region. I can say that when I look to Iraq and their leaders, I also look to Chechnya. The reason I say this is that Chechnya’s leaders were basically appointed by Russia, as my understanding Iraq’s interim leadership has been appointed by the USG (the story I read in the NC Times stated that you also served in that government). For that reason, I’m not too sure who is going to remember in the end if Armenia’s sending troops was a good or bad thing. I do know that the president of Chechnya was assassinated a while back and probably the president that was just elected, who is once again Russia’s candidate will probably see the same fate. And I keep hearing news of persons from the Iraqi interim government being killed every now and then. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not convinced that the government of Iraq or Chechnya today will be the government of tomorrow. All I know is that I have relatives in Iraq (my father left Iraq in 1954 to study at Harvard and never returned), who I am very concerned for their safety and the safety of the Armenian community there. I only know that if we send Armenian troops to Iraq, the Armenians there could be put in harms way, as well as Armenia itself, which is surrounded with Muslim neighbors, could become a target of terrorist attacks.

As for your comment of if the Armenian government does not side with the USG in Iraq, it will loose out on economic and political benefits. I’m a bit confused to this comment, but also understand where you’re coming from at the same time.

Now please don’t get me wrong here. I didn’t vote in the election since I no longer live in the US. If I was to have voted, I would have probably voted for Kerry, only because of possible benefits for Armenia. If I was living in America and voted as an American, I would have been thinking in terms of who is best for America and the American people and I would have voted for Bush. Bush is the man who will take America forward politically and economically taking no prisoners and ridding the world of anyone or anything that is a terrorist threat to America. Bush is a great leader in terms of taking care of the American people only.

As for Armenia benefiting from America politically and economically, I have yet to see that happen and don’t expect to see it ever happen. My feeling from what I’ve seen so far in the last 12 years in Armenia is that American programs have not helped Armenia, but only hurt it. The same programs have been in place in other countries long before Armenia had them and so far they have from what I’ve read produced similar results. Don’t let those little hairs on the back of your neck stand up to long and please hear me out.

I’ve been studying the overall change in Armenia for the last 12+ years and have documented various policy changes in the country, many of which were implemented by directives from the IMF, WB, WTO, Department of State and USAID. Unfortunately, many of these programs have fed into corruption and caused a great deal of hardship for the people living on Armenian soil. Yes, the Armenian government has played along, but keep in mind that in a country that on the verge of being terminally corrupt, what the government does, rarely corresponds with the will of the people. In most of the cases I’ve documented, only USG programs and individuals in government have seen any benefit from these programs.

Now we go back to Iraq and the deployment of troops. It is the opinion of everyone other than yourself so far that it will not be beneficial to send Armenian troops to Iraq at this time. The risks involved, far outweigh the benefits.

I’m not sure when you made your way to the US from Cairo and where your family is originally from, but my family history and story of survival calls to me to make sure my people, the Armenian people, do not knowingly take unnecessary risks or sacrifice even one drop of blood for promises of economic and political stability. The terrible cost of past mistakes will count for nothing if we refuse to learn from them.

Have you ever been to Armenia? If you find yourself in this part of the world, I would be more than happy to show you the Armenia that many visitors rarely see. It just may give you a more rounded view of American foreign policy at work, its effects and also a better understanding how America has become the richest nation on Earth.

Sincerely,

Ara Manoogian
Artsakh, Martuni

I got a message from an Ambassador Joseph Ghougassian, which in response to Markar Melkonian’s original message he sent out in regards to the deployment of Armenian troops being sent out to Iraq. Though the message for me was a bit difficult to understand, I took the advice of the Ambassador when I asked for clarification and he said “You will find the answers if you asked your questions to Google or Yahoo search engines.” I did just as the Ambassador suggested and got the answer I was looking for. Oh and for those that think USG stands for Untied States Gypsum, it does not. Keep in mind when choosing which hits the search engine gives you, that Iraq has oil, sand and terrorist. BTW, for those of you who don’t feel like running a search for USG, it an abbreviation for US Department of State. Oh and for those that were a bit confused by "Arabian Gulf Consultants", and the “ian” at the end of the Ambassador’s name, he is not from some Gulf state, or an ambassador for some Middle-Eastern country, as I would guess, he is an ambassador for the USG (United States Government). For those of you that feel the need to write to the ambassador, do so, as he seems to be open to discussion on this issue. His e-mail address is arabgulf@ix.netcom.com.


Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 10:54:26 -0800
From: "Arabian Gulf Consultants" arabgulf@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: Oppose Armenian Deployment to Iraq.
To:ara_manoogian@yahoo.com
CC:amembusadm@msn.com, info@armeniaforeignministry.com



CC: VARTAN OSKANIAN (FONMIN. ARMENIA)

I DISAGREE WITH YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION, VIEWS AND POLITICAL POSITIONS ON THE MATTER OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF ARMANIAN TROOPS TO IRAQ.
I AM BACK FROM IRAQ WHERE I SPENT 18 MONTHS AS SES ADVISOR IN CPA/DOD IN THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
IF ARMENIA IS TO RECEIVE ALL SORTS OF BENEFITS FROM THE USG FROM POLITICAL TO ECONOMIC, MILITARY/STRATIGIC ASSISTANCE, IT BETTER SIDE WITH THE USG FOREIGN POLICY IN IRAQ AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT IRAQ WILL BE UP AND RUNNING AS A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POWER HOUSE IN THE REGION IN THE SPACE OF 2 YEARS.
I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIALS: "WE WILL REMEMBER WHO WERE OUR FRIENDS DURING OUR TIMES OF DIFFICULTIES."
NOW THAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAS WON BOTH THE POPULAR AND LECTORAL VOTES OF THE AMERICANS, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT WITH THE JOINT PARTICIPATION OF THE IRAQIS, WE WILL CLEAN UP IRAQ OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS, TERRORISTS AND REMNANT SADDAM'S LOYALISTS.
A STRONG IRAQ IS GOOD FOR ARMENIA.
Ambassador Joseph Ghougassian

------------------------------------------

Markar wrote a response to Mr. Ghougassian:


From: MMelkoni@aol.com
To: arabgulf@ix.netcom.com
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 11:43 AM
Subject: Credibility problem.

Dear Mr. Ghougassian,

I recall very clearly my father returning from a visit to Vietnam in 1974 and repeating to me what an American general there had told him: America and its allies in Vietnam had won the war, and it was just a matter of time before the last remnants of the "terrorists" and "foreign fighters" were mopped up. A year later, a tank flying the flag of the National Liberation Front crashed through the gate of the American embassy. Your report reminds me of what that general told my father.

You wrote that "IRAQ WILL BE UP AND RUNNING AS A POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POWER HOUSE IN THE REGION IN THE SPACE OF 2 YEARS." I'm going to go out on a limb here, sir: That will not happen. If this is what you were told, then I'm afraid I have even less confidence in your judgment.

Armenia most certainly must NOT side with U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. It is a policy that failed in Iran and failed in Lebanon, and it will fail in Iraq, too. (It is also a policy that is enormously unjust. But then as an ambassador, I suspect that the word "justice" and its cognates make you want to laugh.)

You wrote that "Senior Iraqi Officials" will remember who were their friends during times of difficulty. Well so will the Iraqi resistance.

Armenians have already given their lives in the war against terrorism. They gave their lives in the Soviet Army, fighting against the very same embryonic Taliban and Islamist fanatics whom George W. Bush's father had armed, trained, and coddled with my tax money. Back then, the Soviets called Osama Bin Laden and his followers "terrorists," but Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and the ambassadors were calling them "Freedom Fighters." You have a credibility problem here.

If Canada and Mexico can excuse themselves from the Coalition of the Willing, then
Armenia certainly can. (And by the way: I haven't seen Israel listed on any of the rosters of Coalition Partners. Why is that?)

More than anything--more than your logical incoherence, your far-fetched prognostications, and your poor judgment--what bothers me most about your message is how lightly you pass over the threats that Iraqi Armenians face, and the long-term threat of political isolation facing the Republic of Armenia. We don't need any more Americans crying for slaughtered Armenians. We've had more than our share of that already, thank you.


Sincerely,
Markar Melkonian

-------------------------------

Mr. Ghougassian “responded” with:


From: "Arabian Gulf Consultants"
To: MMelkoni@aol.com
Sent: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 14:10:39 -0800
Subject: Re: Credibility problem.

Thank you for your response.
Now I understand your true color.
You must be a Kerry supporter.
No matter what facts you are told, you will continue with your obstinate color blind judgement.
Amb. Joseph Ghougassian

I got a response to my letter to the MFA in regards to the Iraq deployment. I’m guessing that this is one of those cut and paste responses, since my name should have been “Mr. Manoogian” and not “Manoogian”. I sent a response to make sure that Vartan O. better understands the importance of why we should NOT send troops and hope that the MFA are in fact reading and understanding each letter which they stated in their e-mail are “useful and valuable.” Keeping that in mind, I wrote them some more “useful and valuable” information so they could make the right decision of opposing the deployment.

------------

Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 16:58:32 +0400
From: “MFA”
Subject: RE: Iraq
To: "Ara Manoogian"

Dear Manoogian,

Thank you for taking the time to write about your concerns regarding the issue of Armenians being sent to Iraq. It is indeed a complicated issue and your thoughts are useful and valuable.

Thank you.


Office of the Minister

------------------------

Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 23:57:27 -0800 (PST)
From:"Ara Manoogian"
Subject: RE: Iraq
To: “MFA”
CC:amembusadm@msn.com

Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Thank you for writing back to me to confirm you have received my message.

You state in your message “It is indeed a complicated issue”. Mr. Foreign Minster, I can’t disagree with you more. If you read my original message (copy attached), you would see that there is nothing complicated about this issue. The whole thing is very simple: Increasingly numerous and effective Iraqi resistance fighters have retaliated against ethnic groups (including Turks and Kurds) that they view as having collaborated with the occupiers. If we send even one person to represent Armenia (even--or especially--in the name of "humanitarian assistance"), then Armenians will also be viewed as collaborators. As a result, even Armenians who have been living in Iraq for decades will be in danger of death.

In the past, Armenian leaders have made mistakes that have caused the loss of Armenian lives. From September 16 to 18, 1918, for example, thousands of Armenians in Baku fell victim to massacres that could have been prevented if Armenian leaders had taken a different approach. (I would be happy to provide you with a copy of Shahan Natalie’s book “The Turks and Us,” which describes this case.) The terrible cost of past mistakes will count for nothing if we refuse to learn from them.

I once again ask that the MFA take a public stance opposing the deployment of any troops to Iraq. The Armenian nation has nothing to gain from it--and much to lose.

Sincerely,

Ara Manoogian
Artsakh, Martuni

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

1 November 2004

Man Charged With Double Murder In Central Yerevan

By Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenian law-enforcement authorities have arrested a person who believe gunned down two other men in broad daylight in downtown Yerevan on Friday.

A senior police source told RFE/RL on Monday that the suspect, Stepan Sukasian, is an ethnic Armenian resident of the town of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia. He said investigators believe that the murder resulted from a two-year business dispute between Sukasian and one of the victims, Grigor Podosian.

Podosian, also an Akhaltsikhe resident, and his cousin Stepan Alikhanian were shot dead on a busy street corner in the city center. The Armenian police, the National Security Service and the Prosecutor-General’s Office launched a joint inquiry immediately after the shooting, underscoring its extraordinary character and public resonance.

The source said the investigators have found out that Sukasian and Podosian had underworld connections and first clashed over control of a lucrative bus service between Akhaltsikhe and Yerevan two years ago. Podosian is said to have stabbed and seriously wounded the arrested suspect in Moscow shortly afterward before fleeing to his hometown. Podosian was forced to leave Georgia’s Armenian-populated Javakheti region by Sukasian’s friends and found refuge in Yerevan, according to the police.

A statement released by the police later in the day said the two Georgian Armenians used to be "childhood friends" and that Sukasian was accompanied by three individuals "at the site of the incident." "Two of them have been tracked down and their participation in what happened is being clarified," the statement said without elaborating.

The police would not say if the suspect has admitted to the accusations.

Today I attended a funeral for a friend that died of cancer. Abo was only 47 years old.

Though I only knew Abo for only 2 years, he was what I would call a true friend. Someone who helps out, standing by ones side and does not expect anything in return.

Abo and his family moved to Armenia in the 1960’s from Iran. He graduated from the polytechnic institute and at the start of perestroika, he and his father started a shoe factory. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the blockade and mass migration, they hit economic hard times. Abo ended up becoming a driver for A1+ news, later working for a friend of mine on an as needed basis.

My friend spoke today at the meal after the funeral and spoke of how Abo knew everything about everything, not just in a talkative way, but in an action way, helping my friend with projects my friend was doing in Lachin, contributing to their success.

Though I have only seen Abo probably in all a dozen times, half of those when he and my friend came to stay at my house in Martuni, the one encounter that stood out in my memory would have to be when my car was impounded in Yerevan due to my car having window film and me not having a valid drivers license.

It was back in November 2002 and after a long day of running around, on the way home, I was pulled over and ended up at police impound, being told that I would have to come back the following Monday to make arrangements to liberate my car.

I knew that if I could just call the Artsakh chief of traffic police in Stepanagert, I would have my car out in a matter of minutes, but there was no phone available to me (there was no such thing as Roaming in those days).

I called a close friend of mine from a phone that could only make local calls, knowing that this friend had a cell phone that I could contact Stepanagert on. When my friend answered, my friend said that they had guest from the US and were going some place in a half hour and would see if they could stop by to help out and I should call them back in a few minutes.

When I called back the friend, my friend told me that they could not come by as they would be late to their engagement, but they will check in with me later to see how I faired.

I then called a closer friend that didn’t have a cell phone, but knew people who he could maybe call on to help me out. He told me to wait and he would call me back. I got a call back a couple of minutes later, telling me that he was sending Abo down to the impound yard to help me out.

Not 10 minutes later, Abo pulled up in his white older model Volga 24. He got out of the car with a smile on his face, giving me a firm handshake and reassured me that everything would be okay.

Abo asked me what I propose we do? I told him I had a need to contact the chief of traffic police in Stepanagert, to which he pulled out his cell phone. I called a friend who gave me the phone number and then called the chief.

The chief told me to call him back in a few minutes, at which time, Abo’s cell phone which had an ez-card in it ran out of talk time. Abo and I drove off to my friend’s house, where I went to call the chief. While I was at my friend’s house, Abo went off to load his phone up with more talk time, of which he refused to take any money from me, even though I insisted, to which he told me that I’ve suffered enough already.

I understood from a call that Abo made while we were at my friend’s house that Abo had left some other work he was in the middle of to come help me out and had no intentions to return until after my issue was resolved.

We returned to the impound yard following the instructions of the chief and after being forced to peal off the window film from my car and paying a fine for the window film violation, we retrieved my car. Abo made sure I was on my way, following me in his car all the way to my friend’s house.

I guess the reason this encounter stuck in my mind was that before this, I had only seen Abo one time and I would not have called him a close friend, but he was the one that came to my aid in a real time of need, which the whole time I have been in Armenia and Artsakh, this was the only time that I really felt helpless and in need. So after a friend that I thought I was close to, who I would have dropped whatever I was doing to come to that friend’s aid, decided that the social engagement was more important, it was Abo that dropped everything he was doing and came to help me out, expecting nothing in return, showed that though we only knew each other in passing, he was what I would call a good, close friend.

At Abo’s funeral, I cried. I guess I was crying for me and my loss of a good and loyal friend. I guess I also cried because Abo’s mother and father attended the funeral and I know that this has to be the hardest thing for a parent to do. His 3 daughters ages 13 to 19 attended and knowing what I know of Abo, he must have been a great father, creating a stable loving environment for his family.

Anyway, today we laid to rest a good friend of mine, who I will miss dearly and I’m sure I will remember for a long time to come.

Rest in peace Abo.

I just sent off this message. Let's see if I get an answer?


Date:Sun, 31 Oct 2004 08:47:32 -0800 (PST)
From:"Ara Manoogian"
Subject: A message for Vartan Oskanian...
To:info@armeniaforeignministry.com
CC:amembusadm@msn.com

Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Armenia,

I am writing to share my concern about the possible deployment of "humanitarian" workers from Armenia to Iraq.

I am an Armenian-American living in Artsakh, who has relatives living in Iraq. I oppose the deployment of any Armenian troops, even those that will be used in non-combat duties, no matter how "humanitarian."

Iraqis, including Armenian-Iraqis, do not welcome the Armenian troops. The presence of these troops will further compromise the security of the 25,000 Armenians in Iraq. Indeed, the deployment of Armenian troops in Iraq may well result in abductions, mass expulsions, and further bloodshed.

Muslim religious leaders, including leaders sympathetic to the Iraqi resistance, have strongly condemned the attacks against Iraqi Christians. Nevertheless, under the conditions of occupation, even a tiny minority of fanatics can inflict great damage. As I write to you, my television is on. CNN is reporting on a Japanese hostage that they have just found beheaded, after the Japanese government refused to comply with the hostage takers demand to pull out their troops.

The resistance to occupation is growing, and anger at the occupiers is rising. "Coalition Partners" are desperate to get OUT of Iraq. Under these circumstances, why would the Republic of Armenia wish to hurl itself INTO the occupation?

One more question for you, sir: What would the Armenian government do if my cousin were taken hostage and you were asked to pull out our troops? If my cousin is killed because of a bad decision by the Armenian Government, who will be answering to me and my family for this blunder? Be assured that if the deployment takes place, and if Armenians are attacked in Iraq as a result of it, we will not permit you to deflect the blame away from yourself.

I ask that you do the right thing. Please take a public position opposing this deployment to Iraq.


Sincerely,

Ara Manoogian
Artsakh, Martuni

I just got this e-mail from Markar Melkonian (Monte Melkonian’s brother) who is justifiably concerned about the possible deployment of Armenian troops to Iraq. Please read it, act accordingly and forward it on to everyone you know.


Dear friends,

Sixteen years ago, when an earthquake ravaged Armenia we rallied to her side. Today, thousands of Armenians might well become victims of yet another disastrous upheaval. But this time it is neither tectonic plates nor Turkish troops that pose the threat. This time, the threat is coming from a handful of short-sighted politicians and ministers in Yerevan.

The President of the Republic of Armenia and members of his administration have proposed to deploy fifty to sixty members of an Armenian contingent to Iraq. Although they claim that the contingent will provide only “humanitarian assistance,” it is to fall under the command of the Polish force, which is part of the U.S.-led coalition that is occupying Iraq.

There are around 25,000 Iraqi Armenians. Some of us have received many reports of threats and reprisals against the Armenian community in that country, and we have read their petitions and the petitions of their church officials, imploring leaders in Yerevan to abandon the deployment plan.

The vast majority of our compatriots in Armenia share their concern. Recently, the independent polling group, Vox Populi, conducted a telephone survey in Yerevan, which showed that 60 percent of the respondents opposed the deployment of Armenian troops in Iraq--and only 6 percent approved.

Armenia’s National Assembly must approve the deployment before it can take place. So far, no date has been set for the vote, but it might take place some time after the November 2 presidential election in the U.S. Despite overwhelming popular opposition to the deployment, it is not a foregone conclusion that the National Assembly would vote it down.

It is urgent, in the run-up to the U.S. election, that we Armenians in the West join hands with our compatriots in Iraq and join voices with the people of Armenia, in opposing this deployment. Please take a moment to voice your concern to:

The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Washington DC:
amembusadm@msn.com

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia:
info@armeniaforeignministry.com
Attn: Mr. Vardan Oskanian

Explain that you oppose the proposed deployment of Armenian troops to Iraq. Remind them that such a deployment will adversely affect Armenia’s relations with its neighbors, especially Russia and Iran, and that it will isolate Armenia from its long-standing friends in the Arab countries. Remind them, too, that the deployment could precipitate bloodshed and a mass exodus of Armenians and other Christians from their country, Iraq.

We are in a position now to make a difference.


With sincere appreciation,


Markar Melkonian


P.S.: Please forward this message to friends, church groups, cultural associations, and student associations.

Turkification… The pay off

I ran into the sister of the woman who used a fraudulent birth certificate she obtained from the Martuni register to gain asylum in Germany.

She said that today was her sister's hearing to determine their status, of which they were awarded permanent residency status.

She said that it will be another 2 months before her sister gets her new passport, at which time she will get a ticket to return to Martuni for a visit.

According to the sister, the next step will be an invitation of family members to Germany, where they hope to permanently join their Turkified sister.

Since last year's Presidential Elections, Armenia ain't what it used to be...

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
29 October 2004

Two Men Shot Dead In Downtown Yerevan

By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Two men were shot and killed by unknown assailants in broad daylight in downtown Yerevan on Friday. Circumstances of the extraordinary crime were not immediately known.

The bodies of the men looking to be in their 30s lay stretched on a blood-stained sidewalk near a busy street intersection in the city center late in the afternoon to the horror of passers-by unaccustomed to such scenes. The area was cordoned off by the police.

Investigators at the scene refused to comment on the mysterious killings. The national Police Service said in a statement later in the day that one of the dead men is an ethnic Armenian from Georgia.

The statement said the investigators “have managed to establish the identity of the person who committed the crime” but will refrain from making it public for the time being “for operational considerations.”

The shootings may have been witnessed by staff of a nearby café that were said to have first alerted the police.

As we can see from the story below, there are jackasses in every part of our government, though it seems that the defense ministry has more than it should. If you ask me, there is no need for “peacekeepers” from Armenia in Iraq, not just because there is an Armenian community there, but because we will also be aiding the West with their act of cultural genocide of the Iraqi people in the name of “war on terror”. I say that if we do end up sending a force to Iraq, one of the conditions is that Serg Sarkisyan, Robert Kocharian, Mikael Arutyunyan and their families must go there also and live among the people and if their children or wife’s are taken hostage, we don’t back down when the native Iraqi’s demand to withdraw our troops and then broadcast the beheading of their family members on Armenian television as a lesson to them and those that think the way they do. God help us all.

Defence chief says sending peacekeepers to Iraq Armenia's task

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
28 Oct 04

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak on 28 October headlined "Actually, we have become independent"

Does the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Deputy Defence Minister Mikael Arutyunyan, not think that the dispatch of Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq might endanger the security of the Armenian community in Iraq?

In response to this question of our correspondent yesterday, the deputy minister said: "Do you think that there are no Georgian or Azerbaijani communities in Iraq? Of course, there are. But both Azerbaijan and Georgia think of increasing their presence in Iraq. The point is not that we fulfil someone's desire by sending troops to Iraq, we solve our own tasks. Otherwise, let's surround our country with a fortress and say that we cannot step out of this boundary."