ARMENIA, LEBANON WILLING TO EXPAND COOPERATION

armradio.am
26.02.2009 13:00

While in Beirut the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Fouad Siniora.

Highly appreciating the friendly ties between the two countries,
the Prime Minister said the Lebanese Armenia community is a unique
bridge in the process of development of mutually beneficial cooperation
between Armenia and Lebanon.

During the meeting the parties discussed the steps in the direction
of further deepening of trade-economic relations between the two
countries.

Noting that there are already 50 enterprises in Armenia functioning
with Lebanese capital, Edward Nalbandian underlined that it’s necessary
to expand the existing ties with new economic projects.

Prime Minister Siniora and Minister Nalbandian exchanged views on
the ways of mitigating the consequences of the global economic crisis.

Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Lebanon
Fawzi Salloukh, following which the negotiations continued in an
extended format.

Greeting Edward Nalbandian, the Foreign Minister of Lebanon said that
exemplary relations have been established between the two countries,
which is associated with the willingness of the sides to develop
friendly cooperation.

Edward Nalbandian noted that ever since independence Armenia has
been taking steps in the direction of development of comprehensive
relations with Lebanon and there are serious achievements in the sphere
– high-level visits, trade-economic cooperation, cultural exchange.

According to the Armenian Foreign Minister’s assessment, the
development of Armenian-Lebanese relations has been slow over the past
few years because of objective and subjective reasons and his visit
is aimed at giving new drive to the mutually beneficial cooperation.

The interlocutors agreed to restart the periodic consultations between
the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

The Ministers turned to the process of resolution of the issues
existing in the region, attaching importance to the exclusion of the
use of force as an important guarantee of effective solution of issues.

During the visit to Lebanon Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
with the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I. Minister
Nalbandian also met with representatives of the Lebanese Armenian
community.

Edward Nalbandian left Lebanon for Syria.