The Lebanese are capable of ensuring political and economic stability through dialogue and consensus, Syrian leader Bashar Assad believes. He told this on Tuesday when he received former Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Damascus, according to the head of state's press service. Al-Assad said that peace and security in the neighboring country are in Syria's interests.
Referring to the way out of Lebanon's political crisis over the election of a new republic's head, al-Assad advised the Lebanese people "to remain committed to national principles and not to bet on change." "Lebanese politicians must reach agreement among themselves on the candidacy of the next president without outside interference," he stressed.
Lebanon's top government post has been vacant since October 31 last year after General Michel Aoun left the Baabda presidential palace at the end of his six-year term.
On June 14, members of the Lebanese parliament will make their 12th attempt to elect a head of the republic after opposition factions nominated former Finance Minister Jihad Azour as their new candidate.
During their conversation, al-Assad and Aoun welcomed efforts to build close cooperation between the Arab countries. The two sides noted that the May 19 Arab League summit in Jeddah "will have a positive impact on the situation in Syria and Lebanon."
A press release from the Free Patriotic Movement, founded and led by Aoun, indicated that the meeting in Damascus addressed the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. "General Aoun drew President al-Assad's attention to the danger of the Western position, which prevents Syrians from leaving and tries to integrate them into Lebanese society," the document stresses.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS