President Aoun: “Cooperation and solidarity between Arab countries is important in light of the crises, pressures and transformations our countries are witnessing...Palestinian issue is at the forefront of concerns, as well as the suffering of some Arab countries and their peoples from wars”

------------
President Aoun: “Lebanon is no longer able to bear the burden of the large numbers of refugees and displaced persons on its land. We hope that you will help us to face these challenges”

------------
 
President Aoun: “Lebanon, despite its difficult circumstances, is determined to find solutions to get out of its crises, while it adheres to its water, oil and gas resources”

------------
 
Aboul Gheit: “The significance of the meeting in Beirut is that the Arab countries stand by Lebanon, its political leadership and its people, with the hope that this beautiful country and its long history will overcome the economic and political problems it suffers from”

------------
 

NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, stressed the importance of Arab-Arab relations, especially in this delicate circumstance that the Arab world is going through and the challenges it faces that require the utmost levels of consultation and joint cooperation.

The President considered that "Cooperation and solidarity between brotherly Arab countries is important in light of the crises, pressures and transformations our countries are witnessing”.
 
President Aoun stressed that "Lebanon, which suffers from a series of accumulated crises, also suffers from burdens that it bears as a result of the large numbers of refugees and displaced people on its land, and it is no longer able to bear this situation, and the position of the international community does not encourage finding quick solutions”.

Moreover, the President hoped that “The Arab foreign ministers help to face these challenges”, asserting that “Lebanon, despite its current difficult circumstances, is determined to face challenges and find solutions to get out of its crises”.

Stances of President Aoun came while receiving a delegation of participants in the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which Lebanon is hosting today.

Meeting:
At the beginning, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Dr. Aboul Gheit, expressed his "Honor and that of the delegation participating in the Arab consultative meeting in President Aoun's visit. I thank Lebanon for hosting this meeting, which is the third, after Doha and then Kuwait”.

“Meetings between Arab foreign ministers are important for communication, and its importance is that they do not have an agenda or documents for research and discussion. Rather, it is a meeting in which opinions, positions and ideas are exchanged in an open manner, which would crystallize into projects and programs that benefit the Arab League”!Abou lGheit said.
 
Dr. Aboul Gheit also considered that “Holding such a meeting in Beirut, specifically at this particular time, has an important meaning, and its significance is that the Arab countries stand by Lebanon, its political leadership and its people, with the hope that this beautiful country and its long history will overcome the economic and political problems that it faces and suffers from”.
Abou lgeit concluded "From here, our meeting in Beirut reflects confidence in Lebanon's stability and future”.

President Aoun's speech:
President Aoun responded welcoming the delegation, thanking the Secretary-General of the Arab League for his speech and said: 

"We welcome you to Beirut, the Secretary-General, Honorable Ministers, and Heads of delegations. 

I would like to extend through you my heartfelt greetings to the leaders of the brotherly Arab countries. I wish all the best to you and your country, and the continuation of progress and prosperity.

I thank the brotherly Arab countries for their support for Lebanon in the difficult circumstances it is facing, and I express my appreciation for the role of the Secretary-General for his efforts to find solutions to the crises and challenges facing the brotherly countries.

You are meeting today in Beirut to consult on issues of Arab concern and more, and you are working to strengthen joint Arab action. We wish you success in your efforts and welcome you to your second country, Lebanon. Cooperation and solidarity between brotherly Arab countries is important in light of what our countries are witnessing from crises, pressures and transformations. The Palestinian cause is of course at the forefront of concerns, as well as the suffering of some Arab countries and their peoples from wars, in different ways.
 
Lebanon, which suffers from a series of accumulated crises, and you know the burdens it bears as a result of the large numbers of refugees and displaced people on its land, is no longer able to bear this situation. The position of the international community does not encourage finding quick solutions. 

We hope that you will help to confront these challenges. Lebanon despite its current difficult circumstances, is determined to face challenges and find solutions to get out of its crises. We held parliamentary elections last May and a delegation from the Arab League participated in observing them, and we are in the process of forming a new government. We are seeking to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to help  Lebanon. 

There is an American mediation to demarcate the southern maritime borders of Lebanon, and Lebanon adheres to its water, oil and gas resources.

I renew my welcome to you and wish you success in your meetings and deliberations, and I wish Algeria success in organizing the Arab Summit in the first and second of November. I will follow it as a Lebanese citizen, because my term ends on the 31st of next October. I wish Qatar success in organizing the World Cup events and I take the occasion to thank the leaders of the brotherly Arab countries who have cooperated with me over the past six years, have been by our side and have repeatedly responded to my calls to support their younger brother Lebanon”.

For his side, the Secretary-General of the Arab League thanked President Aoun for his speech, wishing him a long life after the end of his term, and for Lebanon to come out of its crises.
 
Statement:
After the meeting, Dr. Aboul Gheit made the following statement: 
"Brothers, foreign ministers and presidents’ delegates, expressed their thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Michel Aoun, by attending the presidential palace headquarters, in addition to their standing and support for Lebanon.

This consultative meeting is the third, and it is held by consensual among all Arab countries. It was Lebanon's role to host it, and the ministers welcomed the attendance and their support for the Lebanese people, the Lebanese government and the Lebanese presidency. 

We listened to a gentle speech in which His Excellency President Aoun explained his position and presented the situation. On our part, as an Arab League, we stand behind the Lebanese state, the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people, and we wish Lebanon all the best and success”.

Attendees
The Arab delegation included Messrs.: Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Ambassador Abdel Rahman El Solh.
 
From Jordan: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Lebanon Walid Abdul Rahman Jafal Al Hadid,
 
From the UAE: Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Mariam Khalifa Al Kaabi.
 
From Bahrain: The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Syria, Waheed Mubarak Sayyar,

From Tunisia: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tunisian Immigration, Othman Al-Jarandi, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Lebanon, Ambassador Boraoui Al-Imam.
 
From Algeria: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Ramtane Lamamra, and the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Lebanon, Abdelkarim Rakaibi.

From Comoros: Minister of State in charge of cooperation with the Arab world in the Republic of the Comoros, Kassem Lotfi.
 
From Djibouti: The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Djibouti to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Ahmed Ali Berri.
 
From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Abdul Rahman Al-Jumah.
 
From Sudan: Ali Sadiq, the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sarah Idris Hassan Ahmed, Chargé d'Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Lebanon.
 
From Somalia: Bilal Mohamed Osman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Chargé d'Affairs at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Lebanon, Farhan Jargen.
 
From Iraq: The Permanent Representative of Iraq to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Dulaimi, and Iraq’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Haider Shaya Al-Barrak,.

From the Sultanate of Oman: The Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Rahbi, and the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to Lebanon Badr bin Muhammad bin Badr Al-Mandhari.
 
From Palestine: Dr. Riyad Al-Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the State of Palestine, and Ashraf Dabour, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Lebanon.
 
From Qatar: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and the State of Qatar’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ambassador Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Sahlawi,
 
From Kuwait: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, and the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Lebanon, Ambassador Abdul-Aal Al-Qina’i.
 
From Libya: The Permanent Representative of the State of Libya to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Abdel Muttalib Idris Thabet.
 
From Morocco: The representative of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Tazi, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Lebanon, Ambassador Mohamed Ikrim.
 
From Egypt: Deputy Foreign Minister for Geographical Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ambassador Hamdi Sanad Loza, and the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Lebanon, Muhammad Yasser Alawi.
 
From Mauritania: Assigned to a mission in the office of the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Abroad, Ambassador Hosni Fakih.
 
From Yemen: Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs of the Republic of Yemen, and Abdullah Abdul Karim Daiis, the Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to Lebanon.
 
On the Lebanese side: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdullah Bou Habib, former Minister Salim Jreissati, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and advisors: Brigadier General Boulos Matar, Rafic Shelala, Antoine Constantine and Osama Khashab attended.

----- Presidency Information Office 

==============