YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Official ceremonies for the opening of the Armenian Embassy in Lebanon took place Sunday in Beirut.
The opening ceremony was attended by Lebanese Foreign Minister Faresi Buyez–former speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Hassan Husseyn–Minister of Oil Shahe Barsoumian–State Minister Nikola Sabah–former Local Self-government Minister Hakob Demirchian–parliamentarians–members of the Armenian caucus of the Lebanese parliament–colonel Antoin Ibrahim–ambassadors–industrialists–businessmen–and journalists.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of all Armenian parties–leaders of the Armenian Apostolic–Catholic and Protestant churches.
Among honorary guests were members of Nazarian family who sponsored the construction and furnishing of embassy.
Those present were greeted by Armenia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Arman Navasardian–Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Buyez. His Holiness Aram I–Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia awarded three members of the Nazarian family with medals from the Cilician Catholicosate.
Presidential advisor on foreign affairs Aram Sargssian presented President Robert Kocharian’s message–wherein he congratulated the Lebanese Armenian community on the opening of the new building for the embassy and extended his gratitude to the Nazarian family.
Aram Sargssian handed the Nazarians special certificates signed by the president and announced president’s decision to issue Armenian special status passports to them.