ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OPENED A HOT LINE ON THE SITUATION IN
LEBANON

Yerevan, July 17. ArmInfo. Today Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik
Margarian held a council dedicated to rendering assistance to
the Armenians wishing to leave Lebanon. Minister for Territorial
Administration Hovik Abrahamian, Finance and Economy Minister Vardan
Khachatrian, Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs Gegam Garibjanian,
head of Civil Aviation Department Artem Movsisian, and other officials
participated in the council.

The Governmental press center reports that the Prime Minister expressed
anxiety about the events in Middle East, where a considerable number
of Armenians resides, and stressed the necessity to render assistance
to those Armenians. Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs Garibjanian
informed that the diplomatic representations of Armenia in Syria,
Lebanon, Aleppo are working 24 hours a day and are ready to render any
available assistance. The Foreign Ministry organizes transportation
of Armenian citizens from Lebanon to Armenia. Mr. Garibjanian said
that already 160 citizens have reached Armenia through Syria. He also
said that those ethnic Armenians who do not have Armenian citizenship,
can also enter Armenia, being granted free visas for 3 months. Head of
Civil Aviation Department Artem Movsisian represented the oposrtunities
to organize charter flights to Beirut and Syria.

The departments of the Foreign Ministry were ordered to find out the
exact number of Lebanese Armenians wishing to move to Armenia and
create a telephone hotline. The Civil Aviation Department was ordered
to start negotiating with ArmAvia company on organizing special flights
to Syria. The Government is ready to financy partly the flights.