Lebanese Armenian Presidential Summit Winds up 22 Feb 2018 Lebanon The summit between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan has ended, National News Agency correspondent reported on Thursday. The extended talks between the Lebanese and Armenian sides kicked off afterwards. 
Aoun Starts Official Visit To Armeina, Visits Armenian Genocide Victims' Monument 21 Feb 2018 Lebanon - President of the Republic Michel Aoun on Wednesday arrived at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport coming from Baghdad, starting an official visit to Armenia. President Aoun will hold talks with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian, President of Armenian National Assembly Ara Babloyan, and Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Upon arrival in Yerevan, President Aoun visited Etchmiadzin Cathedral where he met with the Armenian Catholicos, Karekin II. Aoun's accompanying delegation members were present during the meeting. Catholicos Karekin II welcomed the delegation at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, saying the Cathedral was built 301 years ago. The senior Armenian Catholicos said that the visit shall further enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries, and deemed Armenian-Lebanese relations as based on friendship, brotherhood and mutual respect. He also wished Lebanon further prosperity, peace and tranquility. President Aoun, for his part, thanked Catholicos Karekin II for the warm welcome, and wished the Armenian Church further prosperity. At the end of the meeting, Aoun told reporters that his visit to Armenia shall strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries and amongst the two peoples. Later, Aoun visited the museum and monument of the Armenian genocide victims. The museum includes a collection of photographs, documents and artifacts documenting the Armenian genocide and its atrocities. Writing down a word on the Museum's golden book, President Aoun emphasized that justice must be realized in the Armenian genocide case, saluting the Armenian people who, despite all ordeals and tribulations, managed to build a proud country and advance towards a better future. Aoun is scheduled to meet this evening with members of the Lebanese community in Armenia. 
President Aoun Invites Lebanese Community in Armenia to Exercise Their Right to Vote 21 Feb 2018 Lebanon - President of the Republic Michel Aoun told the Lebanese community in Armenia "meeting with the Lebanese while I am abroad has become a tradition that I cherish. The size of the Lebanese spread in the world confirms what I said before that Lebanon is a cosmopolitan country." "The Lebanese of Armenian origin have made a positive impact on Lebanon at various levels; the economic, the political and the cultural," the President said. "I invite you to exercise your right to vote, either in Lebanon or in Armenia if you have registered within the deadline," he called upon them. 
Aoun Relays to Armenia's PM Lebanon's Desire to Boost Economic Relations Between Both Countries 22 Feb 2018 Lebanon - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, expressed on Thursday Lebanon's desire to strengthen economic relations between Lebanon and Armenia. "I will coordinate with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to complete cooperation agreements between the two countries during the Armenian PM's visit to Lebanon on March 12 and 13," Aoun said following talks with Armenian Prime Minister, Karen Karapetyan. In turn, the Armenian PM said that President Aoun's visit to Yerevan "will open the door for more Armenian and Lebanese investments in both countries." In a separate meeting between the Lebanese President and the President of the Armenian National Assembly, Ara Babloyan, the latter stressed the "activation of the Lebanese-Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Committee". He also stressed "coordination between the Lebanese and Armenian Councils and exchange of experience in the field of legislation." 
Aoun Holds Joint Press Conference with Armenian Counterpart, Confirms Lebanon's Attachment to Land, Sea Borders 22 Feb 2018 Lebanon - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, on Thursday held a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Serzh A. Sargsyan, after a round of presidential talks in Yerevan, Armenia. Both sides affirmed the existence of rigid ties between both countries based on mutual trust "while continuing to strengthen and deepen multifaceted cooperation." The pair agreed to work hand-in-hand to increase trade exchange between Lebanon and Armenia and to strengthen bilateral and international cooperation to combat terrorism. "I held positive and constructive talks with His Excellency, President Serzh A. Sargsyan; we discussed the course of the bilateral relations between our two countries, which witnessed remarkable development in recent years. We also broached the means of strengthening and building them on the basis of what has been achieved so far," President Aoun said, hailing the active presence of a large segment of Lebanese-Armenians in Lebanon. "We also discussed the situation in the Middle East and the crises and wars that have been raging in a number of countries, especially in neighboring Syria. We saw eye-to-eye on the need to find peaceful solutions to these crises and to stop the war machine," Aoun added. Both sides stressed the paramount importance of strengthening bilateral and international cooperation to combat terrorism. Aoun also thanked the Armenian President for his country's permanent support for Lebanon, and affirmed mutual support by Lebanon to Armenia and its people, especially in Armenia's diplomatic efforts seeking a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in accordance with the principles of international law. Both Presidents also discussed the continuous Israeli threats against Lebanon's right to its oil and gas in the exclusive economic zone, and Israel's plans to establish a separation wall along disputed zones in the southern borders of Lebanon. "Lebanon fully adheres to its land and sea borders and to its right to defend them by all lawful means," Aoun told his Armenian counterpart. For his part, President Sargsyan lauded the bilateral relations between both countries, which have a history of 25 years. "However, the friendship between our peoples is centuries-long," he added as welcoming his Lebanese counterpart at the Presidential Palace. "The Armenian community has played a great role in the reinforcement of friendship between our peoples. We are grateful for the people and authorities of Lebanon, especially for their special care for our compatriot," the Armenian President said. President Sargsyan also expressed gratitude to the Lebanese authorities, including the Parliament, for acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. He also hoped for more efforts bolstering relations between Lebanon and Armenia at the economic and many other levels. 
Armenian President hosts dinner banquet in honor of Aoun 22 Feb 2018 Lebanon - Armenian President Serge Sarkisian hosts a dinner banquet in honor of President Michel Aoun, in the presence of several Armenian dignitaries. President Aoun is currently on an official visit to Armenia. 
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