The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, on Tuesday paid an official visit to Lebanon, and the invitation of the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Gebran Bassil.

The visit kicked off with a meeting with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Tammam Salam.

The Lebanese PM stated that the people of Lebanon has a special sympathy for the Armenian people. Salam added that the Armenian community of Lebanon has a significant contribution in the close friendship relations between the two countries.

Nalbandian, for his part, noted that Armenia praises the friendly and mutually beneficial relations with Lebanon, and stands ready to make additional efforts to further develop collaboration.

They underscored the strengthening of trade and economic ties, and the need to increase Lebanese investments in Armenia.

At the ensuing talk, the Armenian FM and the Lebanese PM discussed the steps to be taken to further develop bilateral relations.

The interlocutors exchanged views on several regional challenges, and the latest developments in the Middle East. They also reflected on the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations and their message. 

In addition, FM Nalbandian presented PM Salam the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, and the ongoing efforts by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian also met with speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri.

Berri highly praised the collaboration between the two countries in a variety of domains.

The interlocutors highlighted the interparliamentary cooperation, mutual visits of parliamentarians, and the activities of parliamentary friendship groups.

The FM of Armenia and the head of the Lebanese parliament also conferred on the developments in the Middle East.