Aoun Meets with EU Ambassador Christina Lassen

President Michel Aoun met on Wednesday with European Union Ambassador Christina Lassen in Baabda to take stock of recent domestic and regional political developments.

The visit coincided with Aoun's two-year anniversary in office and was an opportunity to discuss the milestones that have shaped his tenure so far, including the successful parliamentary elections, as well as upcoming priorities, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Lebanon said in a press release.

In this context, Lassen inquired about the remaining obstacles facing the formation of a new government of national unity, and hoped that they would be resolved soon, for the benefit of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

She also exchanged with the President on his vision for the Ministerial Statement, expressing hope that the next government would take into account the principles expressed by the International Support Group for Lebanon and discussed at the international conferences held in Rome, Paris and Brussels in support of Lebanon earlier this year.

These notably included the policy of disassociation from external conflicts, resumption of a national dialogue for a National Defense Strategy, and the implementation of a number of important structural and sectoral reforms needed to attract investments towards Lebanon’s sustainable economic development.

Lassen discussed with Aoun the follow-up to the support conferences and encouraged Lebanon to accelerate setting up the follow-up mechanisms agreed in the framework of CEDRE as well as the fight against corruption.

"The European Union will continue to support all efforts by Lebanon to implement the necessary reforms, in a spirit of good will and commitment to our pledges", the Ambassador said.