Editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Aztag Armenian Daily Shahan Kandaharian told Armenian News-NEWS.am that some Armenians of Lebanon wish to move to Armenia, but aren’t panicking.

According to him, all crises become a reason for emigration of the population, and this has been noticed in Lebanon in different periods. Kandaharian added that this means there will be fewer members of the Armenian community, but the community continues to accomplish its mission. “We need to gear those wishing to leave Lebanon towards Armenia where there are support programs for them,” he said.

Kandaharian says France’s efforts to have a serious impact on the processes unfolding in Lebanon and against Turkey’s ambitions surely favor the Armenian community. “There are active political processes unfolding in Lebanon, talks over the formation of the new cabinet are underway in order to help the economy recover and overcome the banking, financial and coronavirus crises. There is also pressure from the international community, which aspires to accelerate the processes. Simultaneously, Lebanon continues to receive humanitarian aid from all parts of the world. This, in its turn, has reduced the risks of scarcity of food, including bread. There are recovery efforts on one side, and active political processes on the other side,” the editor-in-chief added.

A blast took place in Beirut on August 4, taking the lives of more than 200 and leaving more than 5,000 injured. Based on the latest data, 15 Armenians died as a result of the blast. On the backdrop of the blast, the Government of Armenia has expressed willingness to consider the possibility of helping some Lebanese-Armenians move to Armenia.