RIA Novosti, Russia
April 2 2004

ARMENIA, LEBANON TO BOOST COOPERATION

YEREVAN, April 2, 2004. (RIA Novosti) — Armenia and Lebanon are to
develop cooperation in all spheres. Several intergovernmental
agreements were signed at the session of the Armenian-Lebanese
intergovernmental commission. It was held as part of the visit to
Armenia by a Lebanese delegation headed by Prime Minister Rafiq
Hariri, the Armenian government’s staff said.

Armenian and Lebanese Culture Ministers Tamara Pogosyan and Ghazi
Aridi signed a business cooperation program in the youth and culture
spheres for 2004-2007. Armenian Education and Science Minister Sergo
Eritsyan and Lebanese Education Minister Samir Al-Jisr signed an
intergovernmental program on science and education cooperation for
2004-2007. Finally, Armenian Agriculture Minister David Lokyan and
Lebanese Minister of Economy Marwan Hamadeh signed an agreement on
agricultural cooperation.

After the signing ceremony Lebanon’s Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri said
that his country is interested in the development of economic
cooperation with Armenia and growth of bilateral trade turnover.

The Lebanese delegation headed by the Prime Minister arrived in
Armenia on an official visit yesterday at an invitation from Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Markarayn. This is Mr. Hariri’d third visit
to Armenia.