BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 29 (Daily Star) - President Emile Lahoud reportedly said in Wednesday's Cabinet meeting that the issue of Armenian representation in the Cabinet had to be solved soon.

Lahoud was quoted as saying that a solution had to be found regarding the Armenian community's demand to have more than one minister.

The president said this was important especially since Armenians were given one seat in former 14-minister Cabinets.

Therefore, he said, Armenians should get two seats when the government consists of 30 ministers.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet session, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said Lahoud told him that discussions on the matter had progressed.

Aridi said these discussions were taking place on the grounds that "the Armenian community has a right which must be granted to it."

"This is an earned and legitimate right. We all hope this issue will be solved in the near future, as President Lahoud stated," Aridi said.

He was responding to questions about whether the ministers discussed the continuing absence of Sports and Youth Minister Sebouh Hovnanian. "We respect and value the position of the Armenian community," Aridi said.

Prime Minister Rafik Hariri reportedly agreed with Lahoud's comments on the issue during the Cabinet session.