REPORT: President Aoun meets with Macron in Paris

President Michel Aoun met on Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as he began his four-day official visit to the county.

 

Macron welcomed Aoun at the Elysee Palace and discussed with him the latest developments.

 

Following the meeting, Macron hailed the recent efforts deployed by the Lebanese army in fighting terrorism on Lebanon’s border with Syria.

For his part, Aoun stressed the importance of the urgent return of the Syrian refugees to their country.

“The majority of the refugees’ homelands are now considered as safe zones,” he added.

​

Earlier, Aoun started his official visit to France with a ceremony at the iconic Paris landmark, the Arc de Triomphe.

 

An official ceremony in honor of Aoun was then held where the Lebanese President laid wreaths at the base of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

 

Aoun, who is accompanied by an official delegation and First Lady Nadia Aoun, arrived at Le Bourget Military Airport in Paris at 12:30 p.m. Beirut time, a statement from the Presidency’s office announced.

 

Upon his arrival, Aoun went to the Hotel Plaza Athenee, near the Champs-Elysees Avenue, where he headed a coordination meeting to put the final touches on the visit’s schedule.