Aoun departs for Ankara on an official visit... political, security and economic files on the talks table

President of the Republic Joseph Aoun left this afternoon for the Turkish capital, Ankara, on an official visit during which he will hold a series of meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a number of senior Turkish officials to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Ahead of the visit, Aoun stressed that Lebanon views Turkey as a regional partner capable of contributing to support the path of economic recovery, noting that relations between the two countries have the ingredients to move to a more advanced stage of cooperation.

He explained that Turkey’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), along with its regional and international ties, qualifies it to play a supportive role in strengthening international commitment to the "framework formula," while stressing at the same time that the successful implementation of the understandings remains tied to a full Israeli withdrawal simultaneous with the deployment of the Lebanese Army, an end to violations, and the presence of an effective international mechanism to verify the commitment of all parties.

The President also pointed out that the talks would address strengthening military cooperation, noting the Lebanese Army’s need for further support in equipment, training and logistical capabilities, enabling it to extend the authority of the state over all Lebanese territory, particularly in the south. He stressed that any Turkish support would complement, not replace, American and international support.

Regarding the UNIFIL file, Aoun stressed that the priority is to avoid any security vacuum in the south, and that any proposal related to an alternative force, including possible Turkish participation, would be assessed based on the extent of its contribution to supporting the Lebanese Army and enhancing stability.

The President reiterated that the Lebanese state alone, represented by the presidency and the government, holds the constitutional authority to make decisions related to sovereignty, security and foreign relations. He stressed that addressing contentious issues, foremost among them restricting arms to the hands of the state, requires continuous internal dialogue that consolidates the establishment of a strong state through its legitimate institutions.