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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT URGES BUILDING STRONGER TIES
By Van Meguerditchian
The Daily Star
Nov 27 2012
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan underscored Monday the
importance of deepening bilateral relations between Armenia and
Lebanon during the first day of his visit to Beirut, which also saw
the signing of two agreements between the countries.
Sargsyan said the three-day trip reflects the importance of
Armenian-Lebanese cooperation 20 years after the two countries signed
their first bilateral agreements.
"I expressed to President Michel Sleiman the importance of cooperation
with Lebanon on the global level," he said.
"For our part, we have already taken the necessary measures to
encourage [Lebanese] investors to come to Armenia," Sargsyan added.
Following talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Sargsyan praised
Sleiman's efforts to preserve stability and peace in Lebanon amid
the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
In a joint news conference at Baabda Palace, Sargsyan voiced concern
for the unrest in Syria and said that his country welcomes any attempts
at dialogue to bring stability to the war-torn country.
"We are worried about the Syrian people; their pain is also our pain,"
the president said.
After his arrival at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, the
Armenian president headed to the Baabda Palace to meet with Sleiman.
The morning meeting saw the signing of the two agreements. One will
abolish visas for diplomats and the other will allow the countries
to recognize each other's university diplomas.
"We affirmed the mutual desire to strengthen ties between the two
countries and focused on the need to strengthen cultural and social
cooperation," Sleiman said.
Sleiman also said he told Sargsyan of his efforts to launch National
Dialogue and distance Lebanon from regional conflicts.
Accompanied by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Information Minister
Walid Daouk, Sargsyan then headed to Downtown Beirut and placed a
wreath of flowers in honor of the Lebanese martyrs at Martyrs Square.
Lawmakers from rival March 14 and March 8 coalitions will attend
a lunch in honor of Sargsyan at Speaker Nabih Berri's Ain al-Tineh
residence Tuesday.
A previously planned Parliament session to welcome him was replaced
by a lunch at Berri's residence because the session was expected to
lack quorum.
Despite their boycott of Parliament, March 14 MPs said that they
would attend the lunch because it would not be a political gathering.
"Of course we will participate in tomorrow's lunch; it is a social
occasion to welcome the Armenian president along with other MPs from
the other camp," Beirut MP Ammar Houri told The Daily Star.
"The reasons for boycotting the parliamentary session were purely
political and tomorrow's occasion is not a political one."
According to Houri, Berri's decision to replace the Parliamentary
session with a lunch was a "wise move that prevented a new political
crisis."
"Had such a session taken place, it would have been disrespectful,"
the lawmaker said.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati also welcomed Sargsyan in an official
ceremony at the Grand Serail.
"This visit should not end without taking the steps necessary for
the development of our cooperation. Mr. President, your visit today
signals that you consider the relations between the two countries
important," Mikati said.
"We should remove all the obstacles that hamper the development of
bilateral relations between the two countries. The presence of our
Lebanese partners within the Armenian sects greatly contributes in
strengthening these relations," Mikati added.
Sargsyan also called for the development of bilateral relations
and said that such visits play an important role in strengthening
relations.
"We know the circumstances that the region is going through and we
hope that Lebanon can overcome all the difficulties and we also hope
that the situation here remains stable."
Sargsyan will visit Armenian Patriarch Aram I at the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias Tuesday and will hold a meeting
with students at Haigazian University in Beirut.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Nov-27/196222-armenian-president-urges-building-stronger-ties.ashx#axzz2DOmasMPx
By Van Meguerditchian
The Daily Star
Nov 27 2012
Lebanon
BEIRUT: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan underscored Monday the
importance of deepening bilateral relations between Armenia and
Lebanon during the first day of his visit to Beirut, which also saw
the signing of two agreements between the countries.
Sargsyan said the three-day trip reflects the importance of
Armenian-Lebanese cooperation 20 years after the two countries signed
their first bilateral agreements.
"I expressed to President Michel Sleiman the importance of cooperation
with Lebanon on the global level," he said.
"For our part, we have already taken the necessary measures to
encourage [Lebanese] investors to come to Armenia," Sargsyan added.
Following talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Sargsyan praised
Sleiman's efforts to preserve stability and peace in Lebanon amid
the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
In a joint news conference at Baabda Palace, Sargsyan voiced concern
for the unrest in Syria and said that his country welcomes any attempts
at dialogue to bring stability to the war-torn country.
"We are worried about the Syrian people; their pain is also our pain,"
the president said.
After his arrival at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, the
Armenian president headed to the Baabda Palace to meet with Sleiman.
The morning meeting saw the signing of the two agreements. One will
abolish visas for diplomats and the other will allow the countries
to recognize each other's university diplomas.
"We affirmed the mutual desire to strengthen ties between the two
countries and focused on the need to strengthen cultural and social
cooperation," Sleiman said.
Sleiman also said he told Sargsyan of his efforts to launch National
Dialogue and distance Lebanon from regional conflicts.
Accompanied by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Information Minister
Walid Daouk, Sargsyan then headed to Downtown Beirut and placed a
wreath of flowers in honor of the Lebanese martyrs at Martyrs Square.
Lawmakers from rival March 14 and March 8 coalitions will attend
a lunch in honor of Sargsyan at Speaker Nabih Berri's Ain al-Tineh
residence Tuesday.
A previously planned Parliament session to welcome him was replaced
by a lunch at Berri's residence because the session was expected to
lack quorum.
Despite their boycott of Parliament, March 14 MPs said that they
would attend the lunch because it would not be a political gathering.
"Of course we will participate in tomorrow's lunch; it is a social
occasion to welcome the Armenian president along with other MPs from
the other camp," Beirut MP Ammar Houri told The Daily Star.
"The reasons for boycotting the parliamentary session were purely
political and tomorrow's occasion is not a political one."
According to Houri, Berri's decision to replace the Parliamentary
session with a lunch was a "wise move that prevented a new political
crisis."
"Had such a session taken place, it would have been disrespectful,"
the lawmaker said.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati also welcomed Sargsyan in an official
ceremony at the Grand Serail.
"This visit should not end without taking the steps necessary for
the development of our cooperation. Mr. President, your visit today
signals that you consider the relations between the two countries
important," Mikati said.
"We should remove all the obstacles that hamper the development of
bilateral relations between the two countries. The presence of our
Lebanese partners within the Armenian sects greatly contributes in
strengthening these relations," Mikati added.
Sargsyan also called for the development of bilateral relations
and said that such visits play an important role in strengthening
relations.
"We know the circumstances that the region is going through and we
hope that Lebanon can overcome all the difficulties and we also hope
that the situation here remains stable."
Sargsyan will visit Armenian Patriarch Aram I at the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias Tuesday and will hold a meeting
with students at Haigazian University in Beirut.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Nov-27/196222-armenian-president-urges-building-stronger-ties.ashx#axzz2DOmasMPx