On 23 August President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met in Beirut representatives of the governing body of the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s (AGBU) Lebanese branch. Issues related to cooperation between organizations and Artsakh as well as to Artsakh’s domestic and foreign policy were discussed during the meeting. The President noted that the AGBU has had a considerable input in the development of Artsakh, simultaneously underlining the necessity of transferring the cooperation into a qualitatively new level with special emphasis on the sphere of education, further widening contacts between youth in Artsakh and the Diaspora. On the same day President Sahakyan met members of the governing body of the Lebanese Armenian Relief Cross organization. At the beginning Bako Sahakyan congratulated the organization on the 80th anniversary of their foundation and noted that the LARC has had a great contribution both to the preservation of the Armenian national identity in Lebanon and assisting the Motherland. The President noted that Artsakh is very much interested in establishing direct contacts with the Lebanese Armenian Relief Cross, which would add a new impetus to further widening and deepening relations between Armenian community of Lebanon and Artsakh. Adviser to the President of the Artsakh Republic Armen Isagoulov, minister of education and science Vladik Khachatryan, head of the Central Information Department of the Office of the Artsakh Republic President David Babayan, permanent representative of the Artsakh Republic in Lebanon Karo Kebabjyan, as well as ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Lebanon Ashot Kochartan partook at the meetings. CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE NKR PRESIDENT

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