13 February 2017•Update: 13 February 2017
CAIRO
Lebanese President Michel Aoun arrived in Cairo Monday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.
Speaking at a joint press conference, al-Sisi said his talks with the Lebanese leader tackled a host of regional developments, including terror-combat and the Syrian crisis.
“Our talks also dwelt on ways of bolstering bilateral relations, especially in the fields of trade and economy,” he said.
Al-Sisi said Egypt was ready to provide support to the Lebanese army with a view to fighting terrorism.
Aoun, for his part, said his current visit to Egypt aims to underline the depth of relations between the two states.
The Lebanese president is expected to meet with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit during his two-day visit to Cairo.
On Tuesday, he will fly to Jordan as part of his current tour in the region.
Aoun, a former army chief, was elected Lebanon’s president in October, ending a presidential vacuum that had lasted more than two and a half years.
In an interview on the eve of his visit to Egypt, Aoun defended Hezbollah weapons, saying the arms of the Shia group are an essential part in defending Lebanon.
Reporting by Mohamed Mahmud; Writing by Mohamed Sabry Emam Muhammed
