SPEAKER OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HOVIK ARAHAMIAN IS ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO LEBANON

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 12, 2010
BEIRUT

The Speaker of the RA National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian went on a
three-day official visit to Lebanon on April 11. The parliamentary
delegation of Armenia is composed of Head of the NA Staff Gegham
Gharibjanian, and NA deputies Vahan Hovhannisian, Martin Sargsyan,
Hovhannes Margarian, Arayik Grigorian, Armen Martirosian, and Vahe
Enfiajian.

The Speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri met H. Abrahamian
at Beirut Airport. The speakers of the two parliaments had a short
tete-a-tete talk.

Then a meeting of the speakers of the parliaments of Armenia and
Lebanon and the delegations headed by them took place in the House
of Receptions of the National Assembly of Lebanon.

N. Berri stated that Armenia and Lebanon have historical ties, while
the Armenians living in Lebanon are a live bridge between the two
states. 19 agreements have been signed between Armenia and Lebanon,
and these agreements were ratified by their parliaments. However,
as N. Berri pointed out, the economic ties of the two countries are
second to their political relations, and the parliaments should do
their best to promote the bilateral economic ties.

For his part, H. Abrahamian attached special importance to the
development of bilateral relations. Agreeing that the economic
relations are second to the political ones, he considered it necessary
to create such a field where Armenian and Lebanese businessmen can make
investments in the two countries. H. Abrahamian said it is essential to
organize meetings of businessmen in order to encourage economic ties.

"The relations between our countries cannot develop without
interparliamentary cooperation," H. Abrahamian said, stressing the
importance of mutual visits by parliamentary friendship groups. He
declared that the two countries also achieved success in terms
of mutually beneficial cooperation in various international
organizations. The two countries have assisted each other in
international organizations regarding issues of importance to Armenia
and Lebanon. He also expressed a high opinion about the brotherly
attitude to the Lebanese Armenians.

H. Abrahamian invited his Lebanese counterpart to visit Armenia again
on a date convenient for him. He expressed his gratitude that during
his visit to Armenia in 1997, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament
highlighted the Nagorno Karabakh people’s right to self-determination.

In this connection H. Abrahamian stated that Nagorno Karabakh cannot
be part of Azerbaijan.

Expressing his thanks that in May 2000 Lebanon’s parliament headed by
Nabih Berri passed a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide, H.
Abrahamian said that such steps are important for preventing genocides
in the future.

The sides discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations as well. N. Berri
expressed a hope that these relations would normalize soon. According
to H. Abrahamian, the parliament of Turkey delays the ratifiction of
the protocols on Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, with an attempt being
made to link it to the Karabakh problem, whereas these processes are
not linked.

The press service of the RA National Assembly reports that at the
conclusion of the meeting, a memorandum of mutual understanding was
signed between the parliaments of Armenia and Lebanon.