Armenian premier says Lebanese ties "harmonious"

Arminfo
11 Jul 06

Yerevan, 11 July: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today
received a government delegation headed by Lebanese Foreign Minister
Fawzi Sallukh.

Markaryan noted that there are no political problems between Armenia
and Lebanon, Arminfo learnt from the government press service.

Bilateral ties are developing harmoniously and there is a sufficient
legal framework for the development of cooperation, the prime minister
said. He added that the sides have rich cooperation experience within
international organizations and it needs further deepening.

Markaryan noted the need to resume the work of the Armenian-Lebanese
intergovernmental commission which has become less efficient following
the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The three joint practical projects signed with Hariri’s participation
remain topical and can be implemented, but certain efforts need to
be made.

During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for cooperation in
the areas of finance, tourism, agriculture, insurance and culture.

Under agreements reached, the sides will organize Days of Armenian and
Lebanese culture in the two countries. It is planned to open branches
of Lebanese banks and set up joint enterprises in Armenia. A number
of joint Armenian-Lebanese companies are already operating in Armenia.

[Passage omitted: Markaryan thanked Lebanese MPs for recognizing
massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; Sallukh praised contribution
of ethnic Armenians to the development of Lebanon]

[Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1323 gmt 12 Jul 06 reported that Sallukh
was received by President Robert Kocharyan on 12 July. At the meeting,
they praised the high level of bilateral ties]