CHARBEL: ISSUE OF SYRIAN KURDS IN BOURJ HAMMOUD 'EXAGGERATED'
NOW LEBANON
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=331633
Nov 13 2011
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that the issue related to the
expulsion of Syrian Kurds from Bourj Hammoud and its vicinity " has
been exaggerated by media outlets." Bourj Hammoud is a suburb east
of Beirut and is inhabited largely by Armenians.
An-Nahar quoted Charbel on Sunday as saying: "The truth is that some
residents in Bourj Hammoud have been displeased with robberies and
attacks that have occurred and this is what made the citizens raise
their voices and call on the municipality to organize the area."
Charbel said that the municipality can assist Lebanese authorities
in resolving security issues in Bourj Hammoud but "it does not have
the right to kick anyone out, and neither the Tashnaq party nor any
other party has the right to interfere in such issues."
Charbel added that based on information he has obtained, Syrian Kurds
are not being forced out of Bourj Hammoud.
"Reality has shown that no vengeful or unfair measures have taken
place," Charbel told the daily.
The minister said that he will not accept any "politically-motivated"
measures to be taken against Syrian Kurds in the area.
Last month, Future News television quoted Syrian Kurds as saying that
a Tashnaq-related group informed Syrian Kurdish families living in
Bourj Hammoud "of the importance to evacuate their rented houses in
the area."
The report added that the request was made after members of these
families participated in protests against the Syrian regime in front
of the Syrian Embassy in Beirut.
However, Tashnaq party leader MP Hagop Pakradounian later clarified in
an interview that "the municipality asked foreign workers - whether
they are Syrian, Egyptian, Sri Lankan or Filipino - especially those
who do not have identification papers and official or registered
lease contracts, to evacuate the region."
He added that the municipality will allow foreign workers who live
with their families to remain in Bourj Hammoud.
NOW LEBANON
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=331633
Nov 13 2011
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that the issue related to the
expulsion of Syrian Kurds from Bourj Hammoud and its vicinity " has
been exaggerated by media outlets." Bourj Hammoud is a suburb east
of Beirut and is inhabited largely by Armenians.
An-Nahar quoted Charbel on Sunday as saying: "The truth is that some
residents in Bourj Hammoud have been displeased with robberies and
attacks that have occurred and this is what made the citizens raise
their voices and call on the municipality to organize the area."
Charbel said that the municipality can assist Lebanese authorities
in resolving security issues in Bourj Hammoud but "it does not have
the right to kick anyone out, and neither the Tashnaq party nor any
other party has the right to interfere in such issues."
Charbel added that based on information he has obtained, Syrian Kurds
are not being forced out of Bourj Hammoud.
"Reality has shown that no vengeful or unfair measures have taken
place," Charbel told the daily.
The minister said that he will not accept any "politically-motivated"
measures to be taken against Syrian Kurds in the area.
Last month, Future News television quoted Syrian Kurds as saying that
a Tashnaq-related group informed Syrian Kurdish families living in
Bourj Hammoud "of the importance to evacuate their rented houses in
the area."
The report added that the request was made after members of these
families participated in protests against the Syrian regime in front
of the Syrian Embassy in Beirut.
However, Tashnaq party leader MP Hagop Pakradounian later clarified in
an interview that "the municipality asked foreign workers - whether
they are Syrian, Egyptian, Sri Lankan or Filipino - especially those
who do not have identification papers and official or registered
lease contracts, to evacuate the region."
He added that the municipality will allow foreign workers who live
with their families to remain in Bourj Hammoud.