Watch: The President in Baghdad
The President and the Iraqi Prime Minister proceeded to the platform where the Lebanese and Iraqi national anthems were played, followed by an honor guard review. President Aoun then greeted members of the Iraqi delegation, while Prime Minister Sudani greeted members of the Lebanese delegation.
From the airport, President Aoun made the following statement:
'I am pleased to accept the invitation of my brother, His Excellency the President of the brotherly Republic of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid, whom I previously met in Cairo on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab Summit held in the Egyptian capital. This visit is also an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, reflecting the depth of the historic brotherly relations that bind Lebanon and Iraq and embody our shared commitment to enhancing cooperation and coordination in various fields.
This visit is an opportunity to thank the Iraqi leadership and the brotherly Iraqi people for their continuous support to Lebanon and for the valuable assistance they have provided to the Lebanese people, especially during the recent war witnessed by Lebanon. We also highly appreciate the shipments of Iraqi oil, which have provided vital support to Lebanon in its difficult circumstances, expressing the sincere spirit of Arab brotherhood and its noble meanings.
I must also congratulate brotherly Iraq on its outstanding success in hosting the Arab Summit and the Arab Economic Development Summit, which marked an important milestone in the path of joint Arab work. This success reflects Iraq's ability to shoulder its leadership responsibilities in the region and its pivotal role in strengthening Arab solidarity.
I am confident that the talks I will hold today will confirm the complete alignment of views between Lebanon and Iraq, especially regarding deepening coordination and cooperation in all security fields, particularly in combating terrorism and extremism, stemming from our shared belief that security and stability in our countries are interconnected, and that facing security challenges requires joint efforts and exchanging expertise and information.
This visit affirms Lebanon's keenness to develop its relations with brotherly Iraq in various political, economic, cultural, and security fields, serving the interests of our two brotherly peoples and enhancing the stability and prosperity of the region.'
From the airport, President Aoun headed to the Iraqi Presidential Palace to meet with President Rashid.
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