Lebanese President Aoun on Saudi Arabia Visit Reaffirms Commitment to Lebanon's Sovereignty, Crown Prince Salman Expresses Support

Lebanese President Aoun on Saudi Arabia Visit Reaffirms Commitment to Lebanon's Sovereignty, Crown Prince Salman Expresses Support

Riyadh, March 4: The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation on regional and international issues, as well as coordinating positions, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.

Both sides reiterated the necessity of fully implementing the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon's civil war and was negotiated in Saudi Arabia in 1989.

They also stressed the importance of ensuring Lebanon's sovereignty and called for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all Lebanese territories. Additionally, they emphasized the need to restrict weapons to the Lebanese state and supported the Lebanese army's national role.

These points were highlighted in a joint statement issued following the official visit of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Saudi Arabia.

The president was welcomed at Al-Yamamah Palace on Monday, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations.

During their talks, both leaders agreed to examine obstacles affecting the resumption of exports from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and procedures to facilitate Saudi citizens' travel to Lebanon. They also reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon's economic recovery and the implementation of reforms aligned with international standards.

President Aoun expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by Saudi leaders and invited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Lebanon.

This was President Aoun's first official visit to Saudi Arabia, and senior officials from both countries attended the meeting. He expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's role in supporting Lebanon's stability, safety, and the functioning of its institutions, as well as the various forms of assistance provided by Riyadh.

President Aoun and his delegation are scheduled to travel to Cairo on Tuesday to participate in the extraordinary Arab summit.

Aoun, a former army chief, was elected as Lebanon's 14th president in January, ending a more than two-year power vacuum.

The Lebanese people hope that the new president will be able to tackle the country's economic crisis and the devastating aftermath of Hezbollah’s 14-month war with Israel, which left vast areas of Lebanon in ruins and killed more than 4,000 people.