On 29 March, at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon, Haigazian University hosted a discussion devoted to the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Lebanon, as reported on the Facebook page of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon, according to Hayern Aysor.

Among the participants were Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Lebanon Samvel Mkrtchyan; President of Haigazian University, the Very Rev. Paul Haytostian, as well as former Ambassadors of Lebanon to Armenia Saad Zakhia (1997-99) and Gabriel Jeara (2003-11). Among other attendees were representatives of diplomatic, academic and religious circles.

Appreciating the relations that Armenia and Lebanon have had as two sovereign and independent countries for the past 25 years, Ambassador Mkrtchyan referred to the centuries-old relations between the two nations, the outstanding role of the Armenian community of Lebanon, as well as the reciprocal visits that high-ranking state officials have paid over the past two decades and the mutually beneficial cooperation in the spheres of politics, economy, culture and science.

Attaching importance to the bilateral cooperation hinged on value-based approaches in the international arena, Ambassador Mkrtchyan noted that in 2015, Ministers of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan and Jbran Basil participated in the international conference devoted to the protection of religious minorities in the Near East and Middle East held in Geneva. The Ambassador emphasized that the two friendly countries always support each other within international organizations thanks to the mutual trust in the sphere of political cooperation.

In his speech, President of Haigazian University, the Very Rev. Paul Haytostian stated with satisfaction that the graduates of the Class of 1993 of Haigazian University currently hold major offices within the state organizations of the Republic of Armenia.

In his speech, first Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Republic of Armenia Saad Zakhia described the first steps that the Embassy of Lebanon took after becoming the tenth embassy established in the Republic of Armenia following the declaration of independence of the Republic of Armenia. In his interesting speech, Ambassador Gabriel Jeara shared stories about his nine-year term as Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, touched upon the investments made by the Lebanese and Lebanese-Armenians and recalled his contacts with Catholicos Karekin I.

Ambassador Jeara emphasized that, thanks to their close relations, Armenia and Lebanon have been able to establish strong foundations for cooperation based on the mutual respect for their rich cultures over the past 25 years.

The participants of the discussion shared the view that the centuries-old friendship and mutual understanding between Armenia and Lebanon could be further enhanced and empowered through combined efforts.