NNA -  President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, currently in Cairo for the Arab Summit, on Tuesday met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, with whom he discussed regional and international situations, ahead of the summit’s proceedings.

The Iraqi President congratulated President Aoun on his election as president of teh Lebanese republic. 

President Rashid affirmed his country's support for Lebanon in various sectors, highlighting the deeply-rooted bilateral relations between the two countries. He also said that Iraq looks forward to continuing the prospects of cooperation in various fields.

The discussion addressed the situation in the region, especially in Syria and Palestine, and the decisions expected to be issued by the Arab Summit in this regard..

For his part, President Aoun thanked the Iraqi President for Iraq's permanent support for Lebanon in various circumstances at the various political, economic, oil and humnaitarian levels.

In view of the situation in the region, the President of the Republic considered that "the unity of the Arab position is essential at this stage to confront all challenges, especially the fateful ones."

Rashid also extended an official invitation to President Aoun to visit Iraq, which he duly accepted.

The meeting was attended by Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji, and Lebanon's Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ali Halabi.

Moreover, President Aoun received the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, accompanied by the League's Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki, who briefed President Aoun on the deliberations that preceded today's Arab Summit's opening session and on the draft statement. Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Raji, attended the meeting.

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