Deutsche Presse-Agentur
May 10, 2004, Monday

Armenian president starts official visit to Beirut

Beirut

Armenian president Robert Kocharian arrived in Beirut Monday on a
three-day visit during which he is to meet Lebanese officials and
leaders of the Armenian community. Kocharian, who is accompanied by
his wife and daughter, will meet President Emile Lahoud for talks on
bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East, including
in Iraq, officials said. Lebanon hosts the Arab world’s largest
Armenian community, with about 200,000 members. The community has
government ministers and parliament members, and is very active in
the business sector. dpa wh sc