TIGRAN SARGSIAN RECEIVES LEBANESE AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
JULY 15
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian received today Lebanese
ambassador to Armenia Zhebrail Zheara. Governmental press service
told Armenpress that noting about the deep historic roots of
Armenian-Lebanese relations and formed traditions, the prime minister
underscored the necessity of their preservation and development.
The two sides noted about the high level political dialogue and
actively developing economic cooperation. In this respect the sides
underscored the developing cooperation in financial-banking sphere
which is reflected in establishment of Lebanese banks in Armenia. The
ambassador agreed it also with the active efforts exerted by the
prime minister when he was the chairman of the Armenian Central Bank.
Tigran Sargsian and the ambassador also underscored re-starting of
the work of the Armenian-Lebanese inter-governmental commission
and discussion of a number of mutually interested issues within
its framework.
During the meeting the Lebanese ambassador presented to the prime
minister the inner-political situation in Lebanon, spoke about the
newly formed government. He also referred to the Lebanese Armenian
community highly assessing its role in political, economic and cultural
life of the country.
EDWARD NALBANDIAN DISCUSSES A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH U.S. TOP OFFICIALS
YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian met on July 14 with U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice.
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that during
the meeting the minister said that Armenia underscores the deepening
of relations with USA and will seek the development of friendly
partnership and consolidation of the cooperation.
The sides noted that the history and traditions of U.S.-Armenian
relations give opportunity to develop more bilateral relations in
different spheres.
Edward Nalbandian highly assessed the programs of the U.S. government
directed towards the development of different branches of Armenia’s
economy.
The interlocutors discussed also the developments over Nagorno Karabakh
conflict regulation and noted that it may be regulated only through
peaceful negotiations which are taking place within the framework
of the OSCE Minsk Group. The two sides highly assessed the efforts
exerted by the Minsk Group co-chairs and underscored the continuation
of the negotiations on the basis of 2007 Madrid suggestions which
give opportunity to register progress in the peaceful process.
Referring to the perspective of normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations, the Armenian foreign minister reconfirmed Armenia’s
readiness to establish diplomatic relations without pre-conditions
and opening of the Armenian-Turkish border.
The interlocutors also referred to the process of approval of
the U.S. new ambassadorial nominee by the Senate. In this respect
E. Nalbandian expressed hope that the candidacy of the new ambassador
will be approved and she will arrive soon in Armenia which on its
part will have a positive impact on the further consolidation of
bilateral relations.
On the same day E. Nalbandian met in the White House with the
U.S. president aide, deputy consultant to the president on national
security issues James Jeffrey.
During the meeting the sides discussed Armenia’s and U.S. partnership
in the security sphere, pace of Armenia-NATO cooperation, referred
to the issues on ensuring security in the region.
E. Nalbandian and J. Jeffrey also exchanged thoughts over the
process of regulation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, regulation of
Armenian-Turkish relations.
On July 14 the Armenian minister also visited U.S. Congress where
he met with the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the
House of Representatives Howard Berman.
Edward Nalbandian highly assessed the role of the U.S. Congress
in the process of development of Armenian-U.S. relations and the
attention the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives paid towards
the Armenia-related issues.
With the request of Congressman Berman, E. Nalbandian presented
the recent developments over Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation,
prospects for regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations as well as
Armenia’s approaches towards regional and international issues.
Howard Berman noted that the commission headed by him underscores
the development of cooperation with Armenia in all the spheres and
will continue exerting efforts in that direction.