It is our duty to give back to the Lebanese, even though we can never repay them: Serzh Sargsyan

ROME, 9 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. Armenians need to give back to Lebanon. It is with this confidence that President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan declares that he is proud to have an Armenian peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. This is what President Sargsyan declared during the teleconference with Minister of Defense of Italy Roberta Pinotti and held with Armenian and Italian soldiers carrying out a joint peacekeeping operation under the auspices of the United Nations in Lebanon.“It is our duty to give back to the Lebanese, even though we Armenians will never be able to repay them for what they did for our brothers and sisters who survived the Armenian Genocide. The Lebanese provided our compatriots with the opportunity to not only live in their country, but to preserve their national identity and keep their dignity as well. I take pride in and am a little emotional because today, by fate, our armed forces have this opportunity, and you are the ones taking advantage of this opportunity,”the head of state said.

Serzh Sargsyan said what was symbolic was that his official visit to Italy was beginning with a special meeting and teleconference with Italy’s Minister of Defense, meaning that military partnership has a special place in the Armenian-Italian relations.“I would like to stress how important the mission in Lebanon is for us Armenians. Lebanon has been and is a friendly country for Armenia. I’m also proud that the Italian military servicemen are content with our service. I was very happy a short while ago when the Minister of Defense said the Armenians are doing a good job. Thank you,”the President stressed.

Serzh Sargsyan called on the military servicemen to remember that by carrying out a specific mission in Lebanon, they are making their contribution to the maintenance of peace in not only the region, but also the whole world, and that’s a very important mission.