Q. Mr. Oskanian, what was the purpose of your meeting with representatives of international organizations?

A. Our meeting was with those international organizations with a presence in Armenia that can have some possible input in the case of any influx from Iraq to Armenia -- an influx of Armenians or non-Armenians. I must say it was quite a useful meeting. We exchanged information, and as a result, all of us have a better picture of what the refugee situation might be.

Q. What is the situation of our community there now that military activities have begun?

A. This morning we spoke with representatives of the community there. So, my information is quite up-to-date. After four days of bombing, there have, fortunately not been any victims within the Armenian communities of Baghdad, Musul or Basra -- the three cities with significant Armenian concentrations. Of course, the numbers are lower in Musul and Basra -- 1500 each -- and in Bagdad, the community numbers 20,000.

The community representatives also told us that there are no indications in the community of people leaving their homes, or leaving the country. So, at this point, there is no significant influx expected. Of course, the situation is very fluid and this can change quickly. We can only hope that it doesn't. Still, we must be prepared. The government has done its part by passing the necessary decision to request that all government bodies do what is necessary to make it possible for possible refugees to come to Armenia. By meeting with the representatives of the international organizations, we completed the process.

Q. Are there Armenians in Northern Iraq?

A. Yes, and we are concerned with what might happen to them. There is a village of 350 families, in Iraqi Kurdistan, that is completely Armenian. We are particularly concerned about the possibility of a Turkish incursion into that region. If such an incursion were to take place, we believe that the Armenians in the Kurdish regions would want to leave and come to Armenia. We have some preliminary information to that effect and so this issue has our immediate attention. We are very concerned with the news that the Turkish army has or will enter Iraq's northern regions. We believe if such a thing were to occur it would fundamentally complicate the situation and would put the conflict, at a new level, in this region. And we believe that both the US and the international community must caution Turkey, as the US already has, not to take such steps. That can complicate the situation and have negative effects both on the possible future resolution of the conflict, and on the region as a whole.

There are some Armenians in some Arab countries -- Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. In Aleppo, Syria, there are some 20-25 families gathered there already. These families had already fled Iraq before the beginning of the war. We have instructed our Consul General there to get in touch with these families, inform them of Armenia's readiness to receive them if they want to come here. The same has been done in Jordan. We have instructed our ambassador there, resident in Damascus, to go and meet with the Armenian families there. The same is being done in Beirut by our ambassador there. In all cases, they will take the necessary steps to facilitate the transportation of those families to Armenia.