Assad, Aoun Discuss Lebanese Situation, Efforts to Form New Govt

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and visiting Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held talks Wednesday on the situation in Lebanon and the ongoing efforts to form a new Lebanese government, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported.

Talks also tackled "the latest developments in the Arab and regional arenas," SANA said.

Aoun expressed to Assad "appreciation for Syria's stances in support of Lebanon and its keenness on doing what would consolidate its unity and stability."

The meeting was attended by caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil.

Earlier Wednesday, Aoun, who arrived Tuesday in Syria to take part in the celebrations of Saint Maroun Day in the Aleppo village of Brad, called on Lebanese Christians to return to "our roots" and "get out of isolation."

"Our goal is to return to our environment, to our roots," he said after taking part in a mass marking St. Maroun Day in Brad.

"Our goal is not utilitarian, but to get out of isolation," he stressed.

"Christianity and Islam share the same values," Aoun said.

He pointed to Isalmophobia, accusing "some" of taking the word "phobia" and sticking it onto Islam, citing the latest church bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the Egyptian port city of Alexandria.

"We are here to tell the whole world that this region will remain a meeting place of diverse religions," Aoun pledged.