ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: THERE ARE NO POLITICAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND LEBANON

YEREVAN, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. There are no
political problems between Armenia and Lebanon, the relations
develop harmoniously, and there is enough legal-contractual basis for
cooperation. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian announced about this
at the July 11 meeting with the delegation headed by Fawzi Salloukh,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon. The Prime Minister stated
that both countries have also great experience of cooperation in
international organizations, especially within the framework of UN,
which is possible to deepen.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from the RA Government Information
and Public Relations Department, the meeting participants attached
importance to the activization of inter-governmental ties. A.Margarian
mentioned that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Lebanese
Parliament is accepted with great gratitude in Armenia and we highly
appreciate the warm attitude of Lebanese towards Armenians saved
from the Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey. Talking about the Armenian
community both the RA Prime Minister and Lebanese Foreign Minister
pointed out that Armenians, as deserving citizens of Lebanon, have
their big contribution to the country’s development, they are actively
included in the country’s public-political life and contribute to the
strenghtening of the Armenian- Lebanese relations. Fawzi Salloukh added
that by the recognition of the Armenian Genocide Lebanon has proved
once more that it is against all kind of violences and genocides, it is
against terrorism, causing death of thousands of people in the world.

Stating that Armenia follows with attention and preoccupation the
development of the events in the Middle East region, RA Prime Minister
expressed interest in the developments of the Middle East conflict,
in response to which Foreign Minister Salloukh presented in detail
the situation in the region and the approaches of Lebanon over that
developments. He mentioned once again that his country is a supporter
of conflicts’ regulation through diplomatic negotiations and peaceful
way and makes efforts in that direction.

Fawzi Salloukh, taking into account the experience of Armenia and
the presence of high-quality specialists, asked for the assistance
of the RA Government in the issue of mine clearing of territories in
the Southern Lebanon.

Andranik Margarian replied that the assistance possibility will
certainly be discussed with the corresponding Ministries.

The Foreign Minister of Lebanon also presented the RA Prime Minister
the results of the meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Vartan
Oskanian. He mentioned that he had offered his colleague to convene
the coming sitting of the intergovernmental commision in Lebanon and
hoped that it will be possible to receive the RA Prime Minister in
his country.