Argentine president in historic visit to Beirut

Argentine's President Carlos Menem arrived Monday on a historic visit to Lebanon, the first official trip by an Argentinean head of state to the country.

Menem, who is of Syrian descent, arrived in the afternoon at the head of a large delegation including his foreign minister, education minister, and a group of businessmen, industrialists and economists.

He was greeted at Beirut International Airport by President Elias Hrawi, after which the two men headed for Baabda President Palace for closed talks.

The last meeting between a Lebanese and Argentinean president was in 1954 when the late Lebanese President Camille Chamoun met with Argentine's Juan Peron.

Menem, 68, was expected to give a speech at parliament on Tuesday and lay a wreath on the tomb of the "Unknown Soldier," a Lebanese tradition of respect for soldiers who were killed during the 1975-90 civil war

. He was also expected to visit Lebanon's newly-opened National Museum and lunch in the ancient coastal town of Byblos.

Menem leaves Lebanon Wednesday and heads for Egypt.