Sleiman: Our challenges lie in economic reforms

President of the Republic General Michel Sleiman said that prime challenges facing Lebanon nowadays lie in fortifying the nation's civil peace, preserving stability and realizing political reforms.

President Sleiman's words came in an interview he accorded to Armenian Television, on the eve of his departure to Yerevan, upon an official visit to Armenia at the invitation of his Armenian Counterpart Serge Serkisian.

"Challenges on the domestic scene also lie in reforming economic, administrative and judiciary system", Sleiman said, outlining Lebanon's challenges at the international and regional levels as well.

On the international level, Sleiman said that Lebanon's challenges lie in keeping abreast with new globalization climate and confrontation of terrorism and fanaticism.

On the regional level, Lebanon's challenges are based on following up on democratic transformations taking place in the Arab region, facing Israeli occupation and the question of peace in the Middle East, Sleiman noted. Sleiman also saluted the great role played by the Armenian sect in Lebanon in the various political, social, media, cultural and economic spheres.

Sleiman also anticipated great outcome of his visit to the Armenian capital, saying that bilateral Lebanese-Armenian relations deeply anchor in history dating back to the Phoenician times.

"We [Lebanon] look forward to bolstering and developing these relations through the signature of new protocols and agreements", Sleiman said, looking forward to political support exchange between the two countries.