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MICHEL SULEIMAN: LEBANON UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN CAUSED BY DEPORTATIONS AND GENOCIDES
NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 13, 2010
BEIRUT
BEIRUT, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On the morning of April 12 Speaker
of Armenia's National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian met with Lebanese
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Ali Shami. H. Abrahamian
is on a 3-day official visit to Lebanon.
A. Shami said that the Armenians play a great role in Lebanon's
development, adding that they always want to promote relations in the
political, economic and cultural spheres, and the role of the embassies
of the two countries is of special importance in these efforts.
H. Abrahamian stated that such visits contribute to the strengthening
of ties between the two countries and peoples. He considered it
necessary to make cooperation in international structures more active
and encourage parliamentary diplomacy.
The sides also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh
problem. H. Abrahamian reaffirmed Armenia's willingness to establsih
relations with Turkey without preconditions, whereas the latter,
according to him, delays the ratification of the protocols signed
in Zurich. H. Abrahamian said that the Karabakh conflict should be
settled peacefully, within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. He
stressed the importance of recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh's
people to self-determination.
In the words of Ali Shami, they agree that the problem should be
solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Then the RA National Assembly speaker went to Baabda where he was
hosted by President of Lebanon Gen. Michel Suleiman.
The interlocutors dicussed Armenian-Lebanese bilateral relations and
regional problems. Speaking about Armenia-Turkey protocols, H.
Abrahamian considered it inadmissible and blameworthy that Turkey
links their ratification with the Karabakh problem. According to him,
Armenia wants to have friendly relations with its neighbors, but this
cannot be done at the expense of the Armenian people's dignity.
The Lebanese president considered the establishment of relations with
neighbors by means of diplomacy as desirable. In his words, Lebanon
understands the pain caused by deportations and genocides. He said
it is inadmissible to violate the rights of small states or nations. M.
Suleiman put emphasis on cooperation of Armenia and Lebanon in
international organizations with the aim of ensuring peace in the
Middle East and solving the Armenian problem.
H. Abrahamian said each people's right to self-determination must be
protected. He declared that the most important issues in the Karabakh
conflict settlement are Karbakh's right to self-determination,
the security of the Nagorno Karabakh people, and the status of
Nagorno Karabakh - it cannot be part of Azerbaijan. Armenia can make
compromises on other issues, he said.
The speaker of the RA National Assembly and the Lebanese president
also underlined the importance of developing relations between the
two governments, especially in trade and tourism.
Armenian-Lebanese economic relations were discussed in greater detail
during the meeting of Hovik Abrahamian and Lebanese Prime Minister
Saad Hariri.
H. Abrahamian spoke about the necessity to expand economic links,
noting that he would do his best for this purpose. He proposed holding
an Armenian-Lebanese business forum during the visit of Lebanon's
prime minister to Armenia this September.
The sides also discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations. S. Hariri
said Armenia's steps on their improvement are aimed at ensuring
security and stability in the region.
On the same day H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at the grave of the former
Prime Minister of Lebanon, martyr Rafic Hariri.
Then the delegation headed by H. Abrahamian went to the historical
Baalbek where they were met by the mayor, with whom the RA National
Assembly speaker had a short meeting.
Later on April 12 the delegation paid a visit to the settlement of
Anjar populated by Armenians. H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at Monument
to Musa Ler Residents, after which he met with local Armenians.
NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 13, 2010
BEIRUT
BEIRUT, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On the morning of April 12 Speaker
of Armenia's National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian met with Lebanese
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Ali Shami. H. Abrahamian
is on a 3-day official visit to Lebanon.
A. Shami said that the Armenians play a great role in Lebanon's
development, adding that they always want to promote relations in the
political, economic and cultural spheres, and the role of the embassies
of the two countries is of special importance in these efforts.
H. Abrahamian stated that such visits contribute to the strengthening
of ties between the two countries and peoples. He considered it
necessary to make cooperation in international structures more active
and encourage parliamentary diplomacy.
The sides also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh
problem. H. Abrahamian reaffirmed Armenia's willingness to establsih
relations with Turkey without preconditions, whereas the latter,
according to him, delays the ratification of the protocols signed
in Zurich. H. Abrahamian said that the Karabakh conflict should be
settled peacefully, within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. He
stressed the importance of recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh's
people to self-determination.
In the words of Ali Shami, they agree that the problem should be
solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Then the RA National Assembly speaker went to Baabda where he was
hosted by President of Lebanon Gen. Michel Suleiman.
The interlocutors dicussed Armenian-Lebanese bilateral relations and
regional problems. Speaking about Armenia-Turkey protocols, H.
Abrahamian considered it inadmissible and blameworthy that Turkey
links their ratification with the Karabakh problem. According to him,
Armenia wants to have friendly relations with its neighbors, but this
cannot be done at the expense of the Armenian people's dignity.
The Lebanese president considered the establishment of relations with
neighbors by means of diplomacy as desirable. In his words, Lebanon
understands the pain caused by deportations and genocides. He said
it is inadmissible to violate the rights of small states or nations. M.
Suleiman put emphasis on cooperation of Armenia and Lebanon in
international organizations with the aim of ensuring peace in the
Middle East and solving the Armenian problem.
H. Abrahamian said each people's right to self-determination must be
protected. He declared that the most important issues in the Karabakh
conflict settlement are Karbakh's right to self-determination,
the security of the Nagorno Karabakh people, and the status of
Nagorno Karabakh - it cannot be part of Azerbaijan. Armenia can make
compromises on other issues, he said.
The speaker of the RA National Assembly and the Lebanese president
also underlined the importance of developing relations between the
two governments, especially in trade and tourism.
Armenian-Lebanese economic relations were discussed in greater detail
during the meeting of Hovik Abrahamian and Lebanese Prime Minister
Saad Hariri.
H. Abrahamian spoke about the necessity to expand economic links,
noting that he would do his best for this purpose. He proposed holding
an Armenian-Lebanese business forum during the visit of Lebanon's
prime minister to Armenia this September.
The sides also discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations. S. Hariri
said Armenia's steps on their improvement are aimed at ensuring
security and stability in the region.
On the same day H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at the grave of the former
Prime Minister of Lebanon, martyr Rafic Hariri.
Then the delegation headed by H. Abrahamian went to the historical
Baalbek where they were met by the mayor, with whom the RA National
Assembly speaker had a short meeting.
Later on April 12 the delegation paid a visit to the settlement of
Anjar populated by Armenians. H. Abrahamian laid a wreath at Monument
to Musa Ler Residents, after which he met with local Armenians.