Aoun urges Egypt to lead Arab plan to combat terror
LEBANESE PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS LIKELY TO RAISE TENSIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA
Newly elected Lebanese President Michel Aoun arrived in Egypt yesterday, the first for the former army commander in 55 years.
In a news conference, Aoun said that he discussed with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi regional issues and called upon Egypt to lead an “Arab salvation plan” to combat terrorism in the Arab world. He also extended an invitation to Al Sissi to visit Lebanon.
“Hopes of the role that Egypt could play are high. An Egypt of moderation and openness... could launch an Arab rescue initiative based on a strategy to fight terrorism,” Aoun said.
He said Egypt could “work on finding political solutions for the crises in the Arab world and especially Syria”.
The two sides “agreed on the need to stand together against the dangers of terrorism”, Al Sissi said, adding that Egypt was ready “to support the capabilities of Lebanon’s army and its various security bodies”.
Lebanon’s political factions are deeply divided with some, like Aoun’s party and Hezbollah, aligning with Iran, while their opponents are siding with Saudi Arabia.
Hezbollah has a military capability rivalling that of the country’s army and police. Aoun, whose Christian party is allied with Hezbollah, said earlier that Iran’s support for the group “could continue indefinitely.”
“As long as the Lebanese army is not strong enough to battle Israel ... we feel the need for its existence,” Aoun told the Egyptian TV network CBC on Sunday night, alluding to Hezbollah.
Newly-elected Lebanese President Michel Aoun arrived in Egypt yesterday, the first for the former army commander in 55 years.
He was elected after a 29-month vacuum in Lebanon’s top post. In a news conference, Aoun said that he discussed with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi regional issues and called upon Egypt to lead an “Arab salvation plan” to combat terrorism in the Arab world. He also extended an invitation to Al Sissi to visit Lebanon.
“Hopes of the role that Egypt could play are high. An Egypt of moderation and openness... could launch an Arab rescue initiative based on a strategy to fight terrorism,” Aoun said at a joint press conference.
He said Egypt could “work on finding political solutions for the crises in the Arab world and especially Syria”.
The two sides “agreed on the need to stand together against the dangers of terrorism”, Al Sissi said, adding that Egypt was ready “to support the capabilities of Lebanon’s army and its various security bodies”.
Aoun, speaking to Egyptian media ahead of the visit, defended Hezbollah’s refusal to give up its weaponry in media comments that underlined his unabated support for the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group.
Aoun, a Maronite Christian, met later the same day with the leader of Egypt’s Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, and also held talks with Grand Imam Ahmad Al Tayeb of Al Azhar, the highest institution of Sunni Islam.
Today, the Lebanese president is scheduled to meet Ahmad Abu Al Geit, secretarygeneral of the Cairo-based Arab League.
Aoun, who was elected with the support of Hezbollah, visited Saudi Arabia last month on a mission to patch up relations with Riyadh.
Saudi aid
A Lebanese official source said at the time that Saudi Arabia and Lebanon had agreed to hold talks on restoring a $3 billion (Dh11.01 billion) military aid package that Riyadh froze last year.
Saudi Arabia, a fierce regional rival of Iran, froze the aid deal over what it said was Hezbollah’s dominance in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s political factions are deeply divided with some, like Aoun’s party and Hezbollah, aligning with Iran, while their opponents are siding with Saudi Arabia.
Hezbollah, which represents much of Lebanon’s large Shiite community, has a military capability rivaling that of the country’s army and police. Aoun, whose Christian party is allied with Hezbollah, said earlier that Iran’s support for the group “could continue indefinitely.”
“As long as the Lebanese army is not strong enough to battle Israel ... we feel the need for its existence,” Aoun told the Egyptian TV network CBC on Sunday night, alluding to Hezbollah. He added: “It has a complementary role to the Lebanese army.”
His remarks could spark tension with Saudi Arabia.