Stephanopoulos in Lebanon Shared political causes, economic interests

The honored guest then conferred successively with Speaker Berri, Premier Hariri and Deputy Premier Fares before going to the presidential palace at Baabda, where he had talks with President Lahoud which dealt mainly with economic matters and the regional situation.

The two countries expressed their shared desire to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas, particularly economic matters.
Then a wider meeting was held that grouped Hariri, Fares and four ministers: Michel Moussa, Ali Hassan Khalil, Ali Abdallah, Najib Mikati and other officials.
Addresses
In his address, President Lahoud stressed that the conclusion of cooperation agreements were natural in view of the close ties between the two countries.
“The importance of this cooperation has become ever clearer since a delegation of Lebanese businessmen went to Greece last September, when it was decided to set up a mixed commission tasked with developing economic relations between our two countries”.
Lahoud welcomed the interest shown by Athens in strengthening its cultural relations with Lebanon, notably in the form of scholarships. Earlier, the two heads of state co-signed a book on the Greeks and Phoenicians in history written by the noted Lebanese scholar Nina Jidedjian.

Regional situation
In regard to the situation in the wider region, President Lahoud affirmed “Lebanon’s commitment to a just and comprehensive peace, based on the principles of the Madrid Conference [of 1991], which the Israelis continue to trample under foot, most recently by building the ‘security wall’, which flouts the rights of the Palestinian people”. Calling for the return of the Palestinians to their own country, the president reiterated his opposition “and that of Lebanon to any project of implantation”.
On Iraq, he welcomed the convergence of views existing between Beirut and Athens.
Taking the podium, President Stephanopoulos urged implementation of UN resolutions, and he reiterated his desire, and that of his Lebanese counterpart, to increase the solidity of Lebanese-Greek relations.
The two heads of state then went out into the ‘Garden of Presidents’, where President Stephanopoulos planted a cedar, symbol of Lebanese-Greek friendship.

Cooperation agreements
Later, the Lebanese and Greek presidents were present at the signing by Lebanese and Greek ministers of four cooperation protocols in the tourism and agriculture sectors as well as in air and land transport.
Lebanon’s imports from Greece amounted to 47 million dollars in 2002 while its exports to Greece stood at nine million dollars.
Lebanon imports from Greece petroleum derivatives, minerals, natural gas, chemicals, textiles and wooden products. It exports to Athens hardware products, fertilizers, clothes, paper goods, tobacco and cigarettes.
The first day was closed by a dinner given by the Lebanese president and bringing together a large number of personalities.
The second day of the Greek president’s stay was marked by his attendance, with President Lahoud, at the inauguration of the Beirut Commercial Forum, organized by Lebanese and Greek businessmen, a visit to Parliament, and to St. George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and talks at the Grand Serail.
The historic relations between the two countries and the ties linking the Orthodox of Lebanon and those of Greece were highlighted during the day.
The Greek president and his delegation were welcomed at the Parliament House by a guard of honor, after which he and Speaker Berri discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation, in the presence of State Minister Michel Moussa. The guests then had a tour of the legislative chamber. At the end of the visit, Berri underscored “the historic friendship” linking Lebanon and Greece “since the epoch of the sea kingdoms of Tyre, Sidon and Athens”. The speaker also welcomed the fact that “Greece has always supported just and honorable stances” and that it had “stood at the side of Lebanon and of all just Arab causes”. Berri indicated that in the discussion, he had raised “all the matters of interest to the region, from Cyprus to Iraq, by way of Palestine, but also political developments in Lebanon”.

‘A church destroyed, burned, pillaged’
The Greek head of state had only to cross the street from the Parliament House to arrive at St. George’s Cathedral where he was welcomed by Metropolitan Elias Audι, Greek Orthodox archbishop of Beirut, and by Ghassan Tueni, chairman of the committee responsible for restoring the historic building, and members of the committee.
Greeting “a dear guest and brother, with whom we are united by a common history, by faith and by a civilization which is at the origin of contemporary civilization”, the archbishop expressed his pleasure at receiving the president at St. George’s Cathedral, “which is in the heart of Beirut and which, like this city, is the witness of a great history”.
He continued, “Like the city, this church was destroyed, burned, pillaged. Then, like Beirut, it rose again from its ashes and recovered its past splendor, thanks to the faith and generosity of its people but also thanks to the help of friends, among whom is your government”.
In reply, the president noted that “we must speak the truth and acknowledge that we have a special sentiment for the Greek Orthodox community , whose members we regard as our brothers. That said, however, we also respect all the communities, whose people live in harmony and peace within this society”.
Following his stop at the cathedral, President Stephanopoulos met again with Speaker Berri at a luncheon hosted by the latter in his honor in the presence of numerous personalities including Premier Hariri, former President Elias Hrawi, Deputy Speaker Elie Ferzli and Deputy Premier Fares, as well as several ministers, MPs and diplomats.
In the evening, it was the prime minister’s turn to host a dinner for the Greek president at the Grand Serail, following which there was discussion between the two men on bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East.
On Friday, the last day of his visit, President Stephanopoulos visited the University of Balamand, in North Lebanon, which is affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, before returning to Athens. At Balamand, he laid the cornerstone for an institute of environmental studies.

source: http://www.mmorning.com