Erdogan: We will continue our strong support for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the enhancement of its institutional capacities
Ankara – Agencies: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will continue to support efforts to strengthen Lebanon’s institutional capacities, alongside maintaining its humanitarian and technical assistance to the country.
The remarks came during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, on Thursday, following their meeting at the Presidential Complex in the capital, Ankara.
According to the Anadolu Agency, President Erdogan expressed his pleasure at hosting President Aoun in Turkey and thanked him for the visit, which marks the first by a Lebanese president to Turkey in 17 years.
He noted that Aoun possesses extensive military experience and described his election as president of Lebanon earlier this year as an important step toward ensuring security in the country, extending his best wishes for success.
“We discussed with Mr. Aoun today, in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, regional developments. We continue our strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as it is a friendly and brotherly country with which we share strong ties,” he added.
President Erdogan stated that they were closely following the diplomatic initiatives recently launched by President Aoun.
“We discussed the types of contributions we can offer to support these initiatives. We also explored opportunities to develop our bilateral relations across various fields,” he continued.
“In this context, we will continue our support to enhance institutional capacities in Lebanon, and we will keep providing our humanitarian and technical assistance to this country,” he added.
He further noted that the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed in the south, would be a significant development.
President Erdogan announced Turkey’s desire to be part of all initiatives launched to support regional security and ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty following the withdrawal of the current international force.
“Of course, our support for the Lebanese Armed Forces will continue within the framework of security,” he said.
He emphasized that Turkey is closely monitoring diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the Israeli aggression and occupation.
Erdogan affirmed Turkey’s readiness to provide all possible support in the framework of reconstructing southern Lebanon, which has been severely damaged by Israeli attacks.
For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, upon his return from Ankara after talks with President Erdogan covering the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, according to the Lebanese Presidency website, highlighted Turkish assistance in several areas, including army training, equipment and supplies, prefabricated houses to facilitate the return of displaced persons, and Turkish interest in electricity, oil, infrastructure, and air transport.
Aoun pointed to the activation of the free trade agreement, the work of joint committees, and Turkish coordination to involve Lebanon in joint projects in railways and ports. President Aoun also invited President Erdogan to visit Lebanon, thanking him and promising to fulfill the invitation.
Following his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, Aoun stated, “I am pleased to visit the Republic of Turkey, at a juncture that reflects the solid ties uniting our two countries and our shared resolve to enhance cooperation in ways that serve the interests of our peoples and contribute to the stability of our region. What fills me most at this moment is a profound sense of responsibility toward this historic moment. I come from a country that suffers, even as it struggles, endures, hopes, and dreams. I say this while carrying with me the pain of a people who have paid a heavy price as a result of the Israeli war. Thousands of victims, destroyed villages, families uprooted from their homes, and an economy exhausted by war. Yet, what war could not destroy is the will of the Lebanese people. Today, we are more determined than ever to restore our state’s sovereignty, rebuild our homeland, and build a secure and stable future for all Lebanese.”
Aoun continued, “Perhaps this visit was delayed more than it should have been. And while I am the third Lebanese president to visit Turkey in seventy years, I do not mention this number merely out of pride in the occasion, but as a reminder that the relations between our countries deserve to be more present and more ambitious. Today, this visit comes at a pivotal moment, as our region redraws the contours of its future. It is our responsibility to ensure that the Lebanese–Turkish partnership becomes part of shaping this future, rather than remaining a passive observer.”
Clarifying his impressions, President Aoun noted that he had sensed in President Erdoğan “a clear vision and sincere will to elevate the relations between our countries to a new level of cooperation.” He added, “I found a statesman who reads the region with depth and understands that Lebanon’s stability is not solely a Lebanese concern, but an integral part of the stability of the entire region. I am convinced that this visit will mark the beginning of a new phase in Lebanese–Turkish relations, characterized by partnership, trust, and joint action.”
He further stated, “I wish to extend my gratitude to the Republic of Turkey—its government, leadership, and people—for standing by Lebanon during its most difficult moments: from the Beirut port explosion, through the recent war, and at every juncture when Lebanon needed a friend. I also thank the Republic of Turkey for its continuous support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and for its active participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a commitment we value and upon which we rely to continue.”
