Aoun to meet tomorrow with Italian counterpart, inaugurate

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, will leave Beirut this Tuesday for a three-day state visit to Rome upon the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, with whom he will hold talks at the Italian presidential palace, mainly featuring Lebanese-Italian relations and the means to develop them in all fields.
The two Presidents will also discuss the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

President Aoun is due to inaugurate the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue conference to be held in the Italian capital on Thursday, and deliver Lebanon's word at the conference, in the presence of his Italian counterpart, and several officials from European and Mediterranean countries.

The conference will be held for the third time in Rome, and will address issues of interest to the countries on the two shores of the Mediterranean basin, the most prominent of which for this year being "the means to maintain the political stability of these countries, to allow opportunities for exchange, dialogue and common security, through the establishment of strategies to combat terrorism and illegal migration, all the while respecting human rights."

The conference will be attended by Arab League Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, representatives from several Gulf Arab states, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, as well as Italian officials and Lebanese and Arab dignitaries.

President Aoun is also scheduled to meet with the Lebanese community in Italy.

Ahead of his official visit to Italy, President Aoun held diplomatic meetings at the Baabda Palace, starting with a get-together with British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hugo Shorter, accompanied by Middle East Defense Adviser, General John Lorimer, and a number of officers.

During the meeting, the Lebanese-British relations were discussed, particularly the military cooperation.

President Aoun thanked the British delegation for "the support provided by the UK to the Lebanese Army, especially in terms of setting up observation towers along the Lebanese-Syrian border, what helped prevent the infiltration of terrorists across the border into the Lebanese territory, before the liberation of the land in the Fajr Al-Jouroud battle."

Reviewing the overall situation in Lebanon and the region, Aoun reiterated "the Lebanese security forces' readiness to pursue sleeper terrorist cells by carrying out pre-emptive operations that have repetitively proved useful."

President Aoun also hoped "the coming week would bring more positive developments with regard to the political situation that resulted from Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation and then his decision to put that resignation on hold," in accordance with the wishes of the President.
He underlined, in this regard, "the country's stability and security, and its strong relations with all Arab and foreign States."

Separately, Aoun met, in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Gabi Issa, with a delegation from the Institute of American Studies (EAST WEST) headed by Cameron Muntair, with talks touching on the general situation in Lebanon and the region, and Lebanon's position vis-a-vis the latest developments.

"The unity and solidarity of the Lebanese and their rallying around their constitutional institutions is essential to maintaining stability and security in the region and enabling it to face the challenges of different kinds," Aoun told the delegation, highlighting "the continued Israeli threats, especially the repeated violations of resolution 1701, which Lebanon has committed to implement, while Israel continues to breach, totally disregarding the international calls against that."

Aoun also stressed "the need to end the suffering of displaced Syrians and enable them to return home."

On the other hand, the President cabled the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, offering condolences on the death of his sister, Princess Madawi bin Abd el Aziz

Source: NNA