NNA – President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received at Baabda palace, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, at the head of a delegation, who congratulated him on his recent election.

Minister Ryzhenkov handed President Aoun a written letter from his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, bearing on an invitation to visit Belarus and "discuss promising areas and specific projects for bilateral cooperation."

In his message, President Lukashenko expressed his confidence that President Aoun's era and role will lead to consolidating Lebanon’s security and economic and political stability, pointing out his country's keenness on "friendship with Lebanon and its people.”

Separately, President Aoun received at Baabda palace, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó,, at the head of a delegation, who congratulated him on his election as President of the Republic and wished him success in his duties.

The Hungarian Minister revealed "initiatives that his country is looking forward to undertaking, in cooperation with European countries, to stand by Lebanon at this particular stage, in several areas, especially in terms of supporting the Lebanese army."

He also pointed out that "his country will continue its existing cooperation programmes with Lebanon, looking forward to resuming the meetings of the joint ministerial committee between the two countries soon."

President Aoun welcomed the Hungarian Minister, thanking him for his wishes, and for Hungary’s contribution to the UNIFIL forces operating in southern Lebanon, in addition to the assistance it provides to the Lebanese Army.

Moreover, President Aoun received at Baabda palace, the Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, Bishop Michel Kassarji, on top of a delegation from the community.

The delegation congratulated President Aoun on his presidential election. Bishop Kassarji hailed the "decisions issued by the President of the Republic on various Lebanese dossiers," considering that his presence at the helm of the presidency "gives hope to the Lebanese for a brighter and more hopeful tomorrow."

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