Al-Assad, Rouhani, other Top Officials Congratulate Lebanese President
Local Editor
On a day hailed as historic for Lebanon, the international community praised the country's success in electing Gen. Michel Aoun as the new president of the republic Monday, ending a nearly 2-1/2-year-long political deadlock.
In this regard, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday congratulated General Aoun on electing him President of Lebanon.
Al-Assad telephoned Aoun, wishing him success in his new missions and that this step would form a new era in the Lebanese political life and contribute to boosting its stability and achieving a better future for the Lebanese people.
For his part, President of the Islamic Republic Hassan Rouhani congratulated in a telephone conversation his Lebanese counterpart and hoped for expansion of Tehran-Beirut relations during his tenure.
Rouhani described the election as manifestation of peace and triumph of democracy and of all political wings in Lebanon.
Relatively, many other world top officials applauded the event:
Italian President Sergio Mattarella praised Lebanon, while acknowledging stable diplomatic and economic ties between the countries.
"In the name of the Italian people as well as my own, I wish to give you my strongest congratulations," Mattarella said in a media statement.
Similarly, foreign policy head of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, said in a statement Monday: "Today's election of the president opens the way for all political parties to now engage in constructive dialogue and share the responsibility to address the longstanding institutional crisis and the needs of Lebanese citizens."
Though the deeply divided parliament took two rounds of voting - with two unexpected repeat votes in the second round - to elect Aoun, ambassadors and foreign ministers were unified in their optimistic hope and support for Lebanon's future.
Following the announcement of the result, ambassadors and foreign ministers who were attending the parliamentary session, as well as many official figures took to social media, expressing their immediate praise.
The US Embassy applauded, "We congratulate the #Lebanese people and President @General_Aoun on today's election and this moment of opportunity for #Lebanon."
"A historic moment for Lebanon ... Congratulations @General_Aoun - a new chapter begins," UK Ambassador Hugo Shorter tweeted after attending the session.
French Ambassador Emmanuel Bonne, also a direct witness to Aoun's victory, tweeted, "Congratulations and best wishes to the Lebanese people! Peace, unity, prosperity!"
A statement released by the US State Department spokesperson John Kirby lauded the elections and its significance following Lebanon's two-year deadlock. "This is a moment of opportunity, as Lebanon emerges from years of political impasse, to restore government functions and build a more stable and prosperous future for all Lebanese citizens," he said.
Turkish Ambassador Cagatay Erciyes lauded Aoun's presidency before offering a sober assessment of Lebanon's next move.
While no Gulf States had released formal statements at the time of print, Al-Jadeed TV reported that the Emir of Qatar called Aoun to congratulate him on his recent victory.
According to the same source, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi also phoned Aoun immediately after the election session.
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa also sent a congratulatory message.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
