Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian affirmed his country’s full support for Lebanon to enable it to recuperate its occupied territories. This stance came during the talks he held with his Lebanese counterpart at the Presidency’s headquarters in Yerevan.

The Lebanese President and Fares had made their arrival on May 2 on the head of an accompanying delegation that includes the Minister of Sports& Youth Seboah Hovnanian, the Secretary General of the Foreign Secretary Ambassador Zuheir Hamdan, Lebanon’s Ambassador to Armenia Antoine Badawi, Jamil al-Sayyid, the Director-General of Lebanon's Security Directorate, the head of the Legal& Administrative Affairs at the Lebanese Presidency Faruq Qabalan, and the heads of the Press and Editors Syndicates.

After heading to the VIP Lounge to pronounce a brief word, the Lebanese President, Fares, and the accompanying delegation headed to the headquarters of the Armenian Presidency where they were hosted by the Armenian President.


A closed-door session was held by both Presidents during which they discussed issues of joint interest. Meanwhile, both delegations held a series of talks at the Presidential Palace. In the beginning, the First Assistant of the Armenian President welcomed the Lebanese delegation, emphasizing the importance of bilateral relations between Lebanon and Armenia. He viewed the visit as ‘an important event’ in Armenia and exposed the history of the bilateral relations in the economic, political, and educational fields.

In turn, Deputy Premier Issam Fares stated for his part, ‘We in Lebanon look forward towards promoting the relationship with Armenia due to the strong bonds between the Armenian and Lebanese people and due to the primordial role assumed by the Lebanese to secure the development and revitalization of Armenia in different arenas. We share the opinion about the necessity to increase economic and cultural cooperation, and we are keen on developing these fields, especially that the Lebanese businessmen are showing an increasing willingness to invest in Armenia’.

Later, Fares signed a health agreement with the Armenian Health Minister Dr. Ararat Mkrtchyan. The members of the Lebanese delegation then joined the two Presidents in their closed-door session. Discussions revolved around the items included on the agenda.



Visit to the Armenian Genocide MuseumIn the afternoon, Fares moved with the Lebanese President, Mrs. Andre Lahoud, and the accompanying delegation to the Armenian Genocide Museum where a wreath was laid down. Later, they moved to the Museum’s garden to plant a cedar tree on behalf of the Lebanese people.