The Presidency
“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”
Your Excellency President Joseph Aoun,
President of the Lebanese Republic,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I begin my speech by welcoming my brother, His Excellency President Joseph Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic, as a cherished guest to his second homeland “Egypt.” This visit holds special symbolism, as it embodies the robust historical and strategic ties between our two countries and reflects a bond that has endured through the ages. Egypt and Lebanon have consistently exemplified a unique model of true Arab brotherhood.
Distinguished attendees,
President Aoun’s visit comes at a critical juncture and amid a highly complex regional circumstance. The visit reaffirms the depth and resilience of the Egyptian-Lebanese relations at all levels and underscores the close ties between the two peoples and governments.
Our discussions today offered a valuable opportunity to exchange views with my brother, His Excellency the President, on ways to boost cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the economic and trade fields.
We emphasized our keenness on supporting Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts by leveraging Egypt’s pioneering expertise in this area.
I also reiterated Egypt’s steadfast position in support of Lebanon, both in terms of achieving internal stability and preserving its full sovereignty, and our categorical rejection of Israel’s repeated violations against Lebanese territories, as well as its occupation of parts of it.
In this context, Egypt continues its intensive endeavors and engagement with various regional and international parties, urging Israel’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, respect for the cessation of hostilities agreement and the full and simultaneous implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 without selectivity. This will enable the Lebanese state to extend its sovereignty over its territories and strengthen the role of the Lebanese army in enforcing its control south of the Litani River.
Today, I also renew the call upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the reconstruction of Lebanon and strongly encourage international organizations and donors to engage effectively in this endeavor to ensure Lebanon’s return to its rightful path of peace, coexistence, and harmony in the region.
Ladies and gentlemen,
My consultations with His Excellency, President Aoun, also touched upon the developments in the Gaza Strip. We stressed the urgent need to immediately end the aggression against the Strip, resume the ceasefire agreement, and release all hostages and detainees. We also affirmed the significance of the urgent entry of humanitarian aid to meet the pressing needs of innocent civilians in Gaza.
We reaffirmed Egypt and Lebanon’s firm and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and our unequivocal rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinians or liquidate their just cause.
From this platform, we call upon the international community to mobilize international efforts and resources to implement the Gaza reconstruction plan without displacing its people, and to enable the Palestinian Authority to return to the Strip. We also call for expanding international recognition of the Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as this is the only guarantee for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
We also reviewed other pressing regional issues, foremost among them the situation in Syria. We reaffirmed our full support for the Syrian people, and stressed the necessity of a comprehensive, non-exclusionary political process during the transitional period, alongside the continued combat against terrorism and the rejection of all forms of sectarianism or division.
We strongly condemned Israel’s repeated aggressions against Syrian sovereignty and emphasized the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Syrian territories and respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
My brother, Your Excellency President Aoun,
In conclusion, I assure you that Egypt will remain by the side of Lebanon, by Your Excellency’s side, and by the side of the Lebanese government, in all endeavors aimed at maintaining Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty, in a manner that meet the aspirations of its noble people. Let us work together to strengthen our bilateral relations across all fields, so that Lebanon can regain its historic role as a beacon of culture and enlightenment in the Levant and the Arab world.
The engagement between Egypt and Lebanon has been positive, aiming towards development and civilization. Indeed, the ancient Egyptians and the Phoenicians were closely engaged. In the modern era, Egypt was among the first nations, dating back to the 1940s, to establish relations with Lebanon. Furthermore, Egypt and Lebanon have maintained a joint endeavor over the past years in the fields of culture, writing, and poetry.
Mr. President, we offer you our full support and extend to you our best wishes for success.
