IRNA Chief Arrives In Beirut

Beirut, March 13, IRNA - Iranian President's advisor for the press Ali Akbar Javanfekr arrived in Beirut on Monday upon an invitation from Lebanese Information Minister Walid Daouk. Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi and Director of Lebanon's National News Agency Laura Suleiman welcomed Javanfekr at the Beirut airport. Javanfekr is scheduled to hold talks with Lebanon's senior officials and will inaugurate IRNA's new office during his three-day stay in Beirut. Javanfekr told reporters that Iran and Lebanon enjoy close and brotherly relations and have cooperation in all fields. On IRNA's operation in Beirut, Javanfekr said that IRNA gives priority to Lebanon in terms of importance of the developments in the country. He said that he will inaugurate IRNA's new office in Beirut, a reference to the priority IRNA gives to Lebanon. Javanfekr said that he is conveying message of friendship and amity from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanese leaders, adding that he is scheduled to hold talks with Lebanese leaders to bolster Tehran-Beirut cooperation. He said that IRNA is keen on developing multimedia cooperation with Lebanon's National News Agency as per an agreement to this effect reached during President Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon. Javanfekr will meet Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and will visit the office of al-Menar Television. IRNA's new office is named after Kazem Akhavan, IRNA photojournalist kidnapped in Lebanon in 1982. On July 4, 1982, Akhavan was kidnapped along with Iranian diplomats Mohsen Mousavi, Ahmad Motavaselian, Taghi Rastegar Mogaddam by Phalangists there has been no sign of their whereabouts./end