BEIRUT, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Sunday applauded any Arab move aimed at re-establishing the normal relations between Lebanon and the Arab Gulf states.
The Lebanese Presidency said in a statement that president Aoun affirmed, during his reception of the visiting Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Lebanon's unwavering keenness on preserving the highest level of relations with the Arab states.
President Aoun expressed gratitude to minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser for the message he conveyed saying its contents reflected the distinctive relationship between Lebanon and Kuwait, "particularly that the initiative is backed at the Gulf, Arab and international levels." He further indicated that the message relayed by the visiting Kuwaiti foreign minister was designed to rebuild confidence between Lebanon and the Gulf states.
Elaborating, president Aoun affirmed Lebanon's commitment to the implementation of the Taif accord and the ideas forwarded by Sheikh Dr. Ahmad to him, indicating that its contents would be examined by the Lebanese leaders to take "an adequate stance." The Taif accord, worked out in the Saudi resort of Taif in the late 90s, was designed to reform the Lebanese Constitution and end 16 years of civil war fares that threatened the country's very existence, inflicted huge destruction particularly in the capital and claimed more than 150,000 lives.
Moreover, the Lebanese president affirmed during the meeting with Sheikh Dr. Ahmad that the bilateral relations remained solid, asked the minister to relay his greetings to Their Highnesses the Amir and the Crown Prince and Lebanon's gratitude for Kuwait's ongoing stand on Lebanon's side at various difficult times as well as its care for the Lebanese residents in Kuwait.
The Lebanese Presidency statement quoted Sheikh Dr. Ahmad as saying that he relayed salutes from His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, noting that his visit to the country coincided with the 60th anniversary of establishing the diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of liberating Kuwait, noting Lebanon's support for Kuwait during the aggression. (end) ayb.rk