NNA – President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received on Tuesday afternoon at Baabda Palace a delegation of Maronite Bishops, dispatched by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi to offer congratulations to General Aoun on his election.
On emerging, speaking in the name of the delegation, Patriarch Boulos Matar said that they relayed to President Aoun the well-wishes of Patriarch Rahi to succeed in leading the nation towards the safety shores.
“This nation is in need of a new start, in addition to a balanced work and consensus amongst all the Lebanese,” Matar said, noting that they stand by the President in every act that would be in the welfare of the nation.
In reply to a question, Matar said that the longstanding demand by all the Lebanese would be a nation of freedom for all, equality and genuine partnership.
On the other hand, President Aoun received this evening a phone call from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulating him on his election. The phone call was a chance to dwell on the current situation in the region.
Aoun hoped that all organizations affiliated to the UN would continue in supporting Lebanon at the various levels.
The President also received a phone call from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him on his election.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Yohanna tenth Yazigi, also contacted Aoun to congratulate him on presidency post.
Moreover, Aoun received a cable of congratulations from Brazilian President Michel Tamer, who invited him to visit Brazil, and said: “We will work together to deepen the existing friendship relations between the two countries.”
President Tamer stressed the importance of the Lebanese community in Brazil, which is the largest in the world.
German President, Joachim Gauck, also congratulated in a cable President Aoun on his election, saying that Aoun’s election renews Germany’s hope in the strength of the Lebanese democracy, immunity and its ability, even under difficult circumstances, to overcome political divisions and shape the future.
President Gauck underlined that Germany shall continue to stand by Lebanon to surpass current challenges, wishing the Lebanese president and people a future laden with peace, freedom and prosperity.
