Zarif visits Beirut to boost political and economic relations between Lebanon and Iran
Iran's top diplomat is in Beirut where he met with Aoun. The minister praised the Lebanese people who through "dialogue, openness and unity" were able to find a compromise and elect a president. The two countries are together in the fight against terrorism and Jihadism. A senior Syrian government official is also in the Lebanese capital.
Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif arrived yesterday in Lebanon, leading a 45-member delegation of government officials and business operatives.
The goal of the visit is to strengthen bilateral economic and political relations at a delicate moment in the history of the Mideast torn by war and violence and a Muslim worn divided along Shia-Sunni sectarian lines.
Iran’s chief diplomat first congratulated Lebanon’s new head of state, President Michel Aoun, who was elected on 31 October, after nearly two and a half years of vacuum. The Lebanese people, Zarif said, showed that "through dialogue, openness and national unity they can build a better future."
"I am here today,” said the Iranian minister, “to try to build a better future based on fruitful and constructive economic and political cooperation". The latter, he pointed out, will not only benefit Lebanon and Iran, but also "all the peoples of the region".
Pointing the finger at "the takfirist, terrorist and extremist factions that want to spread corruption", the head of Iranian diplomacy noted the values of "unity and strength" of the Lebanese people. He finally reiterated the support "of the Islamic Republic which will be close to Lebanon and the peoples of the region".
Yesterday afternoon Zarif met with the Lebanese President Aoun, bringing the greetings from his Iranian counterpart, President Hassan Rouhani.
Lebanon’s newly elected head of state agreed on the importance of joint efforts in fighting terrorism, noting that his country’s involvement against those who "attack its land and people."
Zarif and Aoun also discussed the Syrian crisis, for which there is no other way out other than a "political solution" that can restore "stability" to the region and put an end "to the tragedy of Syrian refugees" in Lebanon.
"Whilst Lebanon and Iran have the same enemies (Israel and terrorism),” said the Iranian minister, “what matters the most is the relationship and common political and economic interests [. . .] There is a great opportunity to promote relations between the two countries in the context of strengthening stability in the region."
In addition to Iran’s foreign minister, the Lebanese capital is also hosting a top Syrian official, Mansour Azzam, a close associate of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
This is the first time since 2011 and the start of Syria’s civil war that a high-level Syrian envoy makes an official visit to Lebanon, in this case, to meet the new President Aoun.
In Beirut, many observers also expect visits by top officials from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, especially the leaders of the Future Movement, whose chief, Saad Hariri, a Sunni, is the prime minister designate.
However, no one in the party spoke about yesterday’s meetings between Lebanese officials and senior Iranian and Syrian diplomats, which reflects its "zero hostility" policy.
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