President Michel Aoun will depart for New York, Sunday accompanied by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Pierre Raffoul and the administrative delegation and media.
The President is scheduled to meet a number of Arab and international leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi and the Emir of Kuwait Sabah Ahmad el-Sabah and the President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen. According to the Daily, the President will also hold talks with the Secretary-General of the UN Mr. Antonio Gutters as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmad Abou el-Gheit.
The President will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, and will tackle many topics; Al-Mustaqbal daily reported. The President’s speech “will highlight the internal developments in the country after the presidential polls in October, the formation of the government, the implementation of a new parliamentary electoral law, the security forces’ role in combating terrorism and the need to support Lebanon in completing its liberation from the Israeli occupation.”
Furthermore, the President will request the assembly that Lebanon should become a center for the dialogue of civilizations and religions; Last but not least, the President’s speech will tackle the subject of the return of displaced Syrians, “Lebanon will seek to get support for its position on the safe return of Syrian refugees and the need to support Lebanon after it has exceeded its ability to assume the economic, humanitarian, political and security burdens.” The daily newspaper concluded.
Hala Hayek Najjar
