ARMENIAN-LEBANESE ECONOMIC COOPERATION FALLS BEHIND POLITICAL

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, RA MFA press center reported. During the meeting Vartan Oskanian congratulated the interlocutor for the contribution to the preservation of stability in the country during the short tenure of office and for the organization of the parliamentary elections at a high level. The parties confirmed that any government will secure the dynamic development of the Armenian-Lebanese relations. When touching upon the trade-economic relations Vartan Oskanian noted that despite the great potential their level does not correspond to the level of the present political partnership and the warm relationships between the nations. They noted that the formation of Armenian-Lebanese joint enterprises can activate the business ties between the two states. Despite the fact that thanks to the activities of private persons or companies the volume of the commodity turnover has increased and the range of goods widened, there is a necessity of mutually beneficial cooperation and encouragement of the businessmen on the state level. In this view the parties stressed the importance of the intergovernmental economic committee. In their words, formation of joint council of businessmen or joint chamber of commerce as well as Armenian-Lebanese joint ventures would also have a positive impact on the activation of business ties. Upon completion of the meeting Vartan Oskanian laid a wreath to the grave of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri and expressed condolences to the widow and son of the late Prime Minister.