ARMENIA EVACUATES ITS CITIZENS IN LEBANON

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first group
of citizens of Armenia has been already evacuated from Lebanon. As
Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Spokesperson of Armenian Foreign Ministry,
informed radio Liberty, "a group consisting of 70 persons was formed,
which was first moved to Aleppo, then by a direct flight on Saturday
to Yerevan."

The official representative of the Armenian diplomatic department
also stated that a serious attention is paid to the work of Armenian
representations in the Near East in these days. According to him,
a decision to strengthen the Armenian Embassy in Beirut and the
Consulate General in Aleppo has been made. "Additional diplomats
will be sent to these two cities. They are sent for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of the citizens of Armenia and supporting
the efforts of evacuation of those willing."

Vladimir Karapetian does not exclude that new groups of citizens of
Armenia will be formed and evacuated from Lebanon to Armenia in the
coming days.