President Kocharian Condoles The Killing Of Former Lebanese Prime Minister

ArmenPress
Feb 15 2005

Yerevan, February 15, Armenpress: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
has sent a letter of condolences to president of Lebanon, Emile
Lahoud, in connection with the Monday killing of Lebanon’s former
prime minister Rafik Hariri.

“It was with a great sadness that I learned about the killing of
the former prime minister Rafik Hariri, a prominent politician,
whose contribution to strengthening of Lebanon and development of
Lebanese-Armenian relations is invaluable. The terrorist action that
took Hariri’s life is a challenge not only to Lebanon, but also
to the entire region. By strongly condemning any manifestation of
terrorism I convey my personal and all Armenians’ condolences to
you, the people of the friendly Lebanon and Hariri’s beloved ones,”
Kocharian’s message reads.

President Kocharian also sent a letter of condolences to Mrs. Nazik
Hariri.

Hariri was killed Monday in a massive car bomb explosion in Beirut.
At least 13 others, some of them his bodyguards, also died.

Hariri, a billionaire businessman, resigned from government last
October but remained politically influential. He recently joined calls
by the opposition for Syrian troops to quit Lebanon in the run-up to
a general election in May.