Following Tuesday's deadly explosion in Beirut, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian today telephoned Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I and expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and injured.

Sarkissian, according to a statement released by his office, asked Catholicos Aram about the situation in the Armenian-populated Bourj Hammoud district and the damage done to the Armenian Apostolic Catholicosate.

Expressing his support to the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and the Lebanese-Armenian community, President Sarkissian said he is willing to help in whatever way possible.

Sarkissian said he is confident that the Lebanese-Armenian community, which has experienced many trials and tribulations, will overcome this one as well hand-in-hand with all the peoples of Lebanon.