YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A recent visit by Armenia’s prime minister to Lebanon and a subsequent meeting of the Armenian-Lebanese Business Forum have reaped the first of their fruits.
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met Wednesday with a delegation headed by well-known Lebanese banker Imad Jafal the chairman of the Inash Bank in Lebanon.
Following his trip to Lebanon–Armenian prime minister Armen Darbinian regarded banking cooperation as major precondition for bilateral trade and economic relations–as well as financing of industrial projects. The prime minister noted that during his meetings with Lebanese prime minister Rafik-al-Hariri in Beirut–the two discussed Darbinian’s proposal on opening a branch of the bank in Armenia.
Jafal said that his interest in Armenia was peaked following Darbinian’s visit to Lebanon–since a clearer perspective on Armenia was presented by the prime minister.
"Lebanon is a window into the Middle East for the world. Now we regard Armenia as a window into the former Soviet countries for the Arab world," expressed Jafal.