Azernews.Az

Lebanon could be a platform for Armenia to expand its relations with other Arab countries, while Yerevan could become a bridge between Lebanon and former Soviet states, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said.

Berri, who headed the first official Lebanese delegation to Armenia in 1997, said Tuesday the need to push the relationship between the two countries forward.

"There are 20 agreements between the two countries … and more than 20,000 Lebanese students have graduated from universities in Armenia."

But Berri said Lebanon-Armenia economic and trade relations have remained weak despite the firm ties between the two countries.

"There are a lot of investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Beirut and Yerevan.

"We need to admit that the capacity of trade and economic relations between our countries is not on the level of the relationship between the Lebanese and Armenians … and I would prefer not to mention any numbers," Berri said.

Berri further said that Lebanon was struggling against Israeli occupation and claimed Armenians face a similar challenge.

"We share the grief of the Armenian people who suffered genocide in 1915, because we are also being subjected to genocide," he said.

Berri, who is on an official visit to Armenia, is accompanied by MP Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, and MP Arthur Nazarian, head of the Armenian-Lebanese Friendship Committee.

During his visit, Berri also met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.