LEBANESE, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
NowLebanon
Nov 26 2012
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman discussed the latest regional
developments on Monday with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
particularly developments in neighboring Syria.
During a joint press conference with the Armenian president, Suleiman
said he briefed Sargsyan on "efforts deployed to resume dialogue
[in Lebanon] and keep it away from the negative repercussions of the
regional crises," the National News Agency reported.
The Lebanese president also voiced his country's support for Armenia's
independence, and its "pride in the accomplishments of Lebanese people
of Armenian descent."
He also expressed his desire to "reinforce the ties between Lebanon
and Armenia in the cultural and social fields."
Meanwhile, Sargsyan voiced his concern over the fate of the Syrian
people.
"Armenia has always stood against bloodshed, and it is impossible for
the situation in Syria to be resolved without dialogue," Sargsyan said.
Fears of a spillover of the Syrian conflict, which has raged for more
than 20 months and left over 40,000 people dead, have increased as
violence has spread to Syria's borders with Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan,
Iraq, and Israel.
Earlier on Monday, the Armenian president arrived in Lebanon for an
official visit.
Sargsyan had been scheduled to address the Lebanese parliament.
However, last week Speaker Nabih Berri dismissed his earlier call
for a plenary legislative session to receive Sargsyan, ostensibly
due to the absence of several ministers and MPs who travelled to
the Vatican to participate in the ordination ceremony of Maronite
Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai as a cardinal.
Parliamentary activity in Lebanon has been disrupted since the
opposition March 14 coalition announced that it would cut all ties
with the current government, including meetings held by parliamentary
committees to discuss proposals transferred by the cabinet.
The boycott decision followed the assassination of Lebanon's Internal
Security Forces intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan on October 19 in
Beirut's Ashrafieh.
-NOW Lebanon
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=460668
NowLebanon
Nov 26 2012
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman discussed the latest regional
developments on Monday with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
particularly developments in neighboring Syria.
During a joint press conference with the Armenian president, Suleiman
said he briefed Sargsyan on "efforts deployed to resume dialogue
[in Lebanon] and keep it away from the negative repercussions of the
regional crises," the National News Agency reported.
The Lebanese president also voiced his country's support for Armenia's
independence, and its "pride in the accomplishments of Lebanese people
of Armenian descent."
He also expressed his desire to "reinforce the ties between Lebanon
and Armenia in the cultural and social fields."
Meanwhile, Sargsyan voiced his concern over the fate of the Syrian
people.
"Armenia has always stood against bloodshed, and it is impossible for
the situation in Syria to be resolved without dialogue," Sargsyan said.
Fears of a spillover of the Syrian conflict, which has raged for more
than 20 months and left over 40,000 people dead, have increased as
violence has spread to Syria's borders with Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan,
Iraq, and Israel.
Earlier on Monday, the Armenian president arrived in Lebanon for an
official visit.
Sargsyan had been scheduled to address the Lebanese parliament.
However, last week Speaker Nabih Berri dismissed his earlier call
for a plenary legislative session to receive Sargsyan, ostensibly
due to the absence of several ministers and MPs who travelled to
the Vatican to participate in the ordination ceremony of Maronite
Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai as a cardinal.
Parliamentary activity in Lebanon has been disrupted since the
opposition March 14 coalition announced that it would cut all ties
with the current government, including meetings held by parliamentary
committees to discuss proposals transferred by the cabinet.
The boycott decision followed the assassination of Lebanon's Internal
Security Forces intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan on October 19 in
Beirut's Ashrafieh.
-NOW Lebanon
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=460668