National Assembly (Parliament.am)
April 14 2010
Armenia

Meetings of RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan Continue in Lebanon On April
12 in the morning the RA National Assembly Speaker had a meeting with
the Minister of Foreign Minister and Emigrants of Lebanon Ali Shami.

Noting that the Armenians play a major role in the development of
Lebanon the Foreign Minister said that they always wanted to develop
relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres. And the
embassies of the two countries have a major role.

Hovik Abrahamyan noted that such visits promote the strengthening of
ties between the two countries and peoples. He considered necessary
the activation of the relations in the international structures. RA
NA Speaker especially highlighted the activation of the parliamentary
diplomacy.

The sides also touched upon the Armenian-Turkish relations and NK
issue. RA NA Speaker reiterated Armenia’s willingness to establish
relations with Turkey without preconditions. Meanwhile the latter
delays the ratification of the protocols, which was signed in Zurich,
by the parliament.

RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the NK conflict should
be regulated in peaceful way within the framework of OSCE Minsk
Group. He considered very important the recognition of the right
of self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people. In Ali Shami’s
words, they agree that the issue will be regulated within the framework
of OSCE Minsk Group.

After the meeting with the Lebanese Minister the NA Speaker left for
Baabda, where he met the President of Lebanon, General Michel Suleiman
in the residence of the President of Lebanon.

Expressing his gratitude for reception Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the
bilateral warm relations and fraternal attitude to our compatriots.

The interlocutors touched upon the Armenian-Lebanese bilateral
relations, regional problems. Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Hovik Abrahamyan considered unacceptable and condemnable
that Turkey connects their ratification with NK issue. In the words
of RA NA Speaker, Armenia wants to have friendly relations with
its neighbourr, but they must not be at the expense of our people’s
dignity.

The President of Lebanon considered desirable the normalization of
relations with the neighbours in diplomatic way. In his words, Lebanon
realizes the pain, to which lead the deportations and genocides. He
considered unacceptable the violation of the rights of small states and
nations. Michel Suleiman highlighted the cooperation between Armenia
and Lebanon in the international structures for the solution of the
issue of peace in the Near East and the Armenian Cause.

RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan noted the right of the
self-determination of every nation should be protected. In the process
of the NK conflict settlement the most important thing is the right of
the Nagorno Karabakh self-determination and the issue of the NK status:
the Nagorno Karabakh can never be in the composition of Azerbaijan. In
the remaining issues Armenia can go to compromises.

RA NA Speaker and the President of Lebanon also emphasized the
activation of ties between the governments of the two countries. In
particular, the spheres of trade and tourism were noted.

During the meeting of RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and the Prime
Lebanese Minister Saad Hariri the Armenian-Lebanese economic relations
were more thoroughly discussed. Hovik Abrahamyan considered necessary
the expansion of economic ties, noting that as Speaker of Parliament
he would do his best for its development. He proposed to hold
Armenian-Lebanese business forum within the framework of the Lebanese
Prime Minister’s visit in September of this year. The Lebanese Prime
Minister noted that the businessmen of Armenia and Lebanon are very
active but we should connect them with each other. The sides also
discussed the issue of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Saad Hariri
noted that for the improvement of those relations the steps taken by
Armenia were aimed at ensuring security and stability in the region.

After the meeting with Prime Minister RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
visited the late martyred Prime Minister Hariri’s tomb and laid
a wreath.

Later the delegation by RA NA Speaker left for Historical Baalbek,
where he was met by the Mayor and had a short meeting.

On the evening of April 12 the delegation led by Hovik Abrahamyan
visited Aynjar, which is resided with Armenians. He laid a wreath
at the monument erected in memory of those who died in Musa Dagh,
after that he had a meeting with our compatriots.