ARMENIAN AND LEBANESE PRESIDENTS DISCUSSED SITUATION IN NEAR EAST AND IRAQ

Armenian and Lebanese Presidents Robert Kocharian and Emil Lahoud discussed the situation in the Near East and Iraq, RIA Novosti was told in the office of the Lebanese leader. R. Kocharian, who arrived in Beirut on a three-day visit today, informed his Lebanese colleague of the present situation in Armenia and the efforts exerted for its normalization, in part, the improvement of economic conditions. Both Presidents highlighted the importance of consolidating bilateral relations. To note, the Armenian community of Lebanon counts about 150 000 people, most of them being descendants of the Armenians, who escaped to Lebanon during the genocide perpetrated by Turks in the beginning of the 20-th century.