Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, held a series of significant meetings on Tuesday, addressing key national and international issues. He met with former Minister Michel Pharaon, who extended an invitation to a consultative meeting in preparation for a conference on ‘The Neutrality of Lebanon and the Lebanese: Closing the Arena and the Arenas.’ This event, organized in collaboration with Austria, aims to explore Lebanon’s neutrality across various sectors such as policy, culture, memory, and education.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, MP Walid Baarini also met with President Aoun, expressing his support for the President’s position on negotiations and the state’s exclusive possession of arms. Baarini praised Aoun’s careful management of these matters, which he believes helps avoid internal conflicts within Lebanon.
In another significant meeting, President Aoun received the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, accompanied by WFP Lebanon Director Matthew Hollingworth and Chtaura Municipality Mayor. Todt provided insights into global traffic safety campaigns and shared alarming statistics on the increase in traffic-related fatalities and injuries worldwide. He emphasized the importance of awareness campaigns involving influential societal figures to promote safe driving practices.
President Aoun expressed appreciation for Todt’s efforts, highlighting the importance of the UN’s involvement in traffic safety initiatives in Lebanon. He reaffirmed his commitment by stating that security agencies have been instructed to enforce traffic laws strictly to ensure the safety of Lebanese citizens.
Additionally, President Aoun welcomed the President of the Lebanese Otolaryngology Head and Neck Society, Dr. Raed Rtail, along with a delegation, to discuss concerns related to the cosmetic profession sector in Lebanon.
Finally, Aoun met with Dr. Chaouki Abdallah, President of the Lebanese American University (LAU), and his delegation. The discussion covered the state of university education and the health sector in Lebanon. Dr. Abdallah invited President Aoun to the centenary celebration of the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, highlighting the institution’s contributions to health and medical advancements in the country.