Lebanese city Keen to boost tourism ties with Iran's holy city

Mayor of the Lebanese city of Baalbek Seyed Hashem Othman voiced his city's enthusiasm for the expansion of tourism ties with Iran's holy city of Qom."Given the existence of holy places in both cities, we want to expand tourism ties," Othman said at a meeting between a number of Lebanese mayors and the mayor of Qom today.This city (Baalbek) and Qom enjoy good ties and relations with each other and for that reason we want the expansion of tourism ties between Qom and Baalbek."He expressed the hope that Baalbek could host a conference on tourism, and added that he would brief the Lebanese officials on the agreements made today.Baalbek, also known as Baalbeck is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. The town is about 85 km Northeast of Beirut and about 75 km North of Damascus. It has a population of approximately 72,000, mostly Shiite Muslims.Known as Heliopolis during the period of Roman rule, it was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire and contains some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Lebanon.