President Michel Aoun on Tuesday condemned the assassination of Russia’s ambassador in Turkey and the truck attack that killed 12 people and wounded 50 others in Germany.
“This terrorist act is totally against the principle of the dialogue of civilizations which the late ambassador was promoting through his visit to an art exhibition titled ‘Russia through the Eyes of Turks’,” said Aoun in a cable of condolences he sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Lebanon, which has taken the decision to fight terrorism and has paid a hefty price facing it, is counting on the support of its brothers and friends, including Russia, and they must come together to restore the hope of the region and the world in a prosperous, bright future that would be free of the concept of terrorism and criminalism,” Aoun added.
The president also deplored the “brutal act that was aimed at undermining security and stability in Germany” in a cable that he sent to his German counterpart Joachim Gauck.
A Turkish policeman crying “Aleppo” and “Allahu Akbar” shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov at an art exhibition in Ankara on Monday, in what Moscow branded a “terrorist act” that would be punished.
Dramatic television footage showed the attacker — dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie — shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) and then talking about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic.
Switching to Turkish, he then says: “Don’t forget about Syria, don’t forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable.”
