Lebanese President receives message from US counterpart praising his leadership amid current circumstances

Beirut, September 21 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese Presidency announced that Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun received on Monday a message from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed his pleasure at being received at the White House last July and his admiration for Aoun’s leadership of the country in the current phase. The Presidency said in a statement that President Trump described the visit as “historic,” noting it was the first by a Lebanese head of state in nearly two decades, and expressed his appreciation for President Aoun’s “decisive” leadership on behalf of Lebanon and its people. The statement added that the U.S. president thanked President Aoun for bestowing upon him the National Order of the Cedar, Grand Cordon rank, emphasizing that this “exceptional honor embodies the Lebanese spirit and will be cherished as a symbol of the two countries’ shared commitment to peace, security, and prosperity worldwide.” The statement noted that President Trump conveyed his best wishes to President Aoun and his family, joining First Lady Melania Trump. President Aoun’s visit to Washington in July held exceptional diplomatic significance, as it reopened direct high-level communication channels between the two presidencies after a hiatus of nearly two decades, marking a pivotal step in discussing support for the Lebanese army, strengthening state sovereignty, and consolidating stability in the south. (End) F.Z. / N.S.A.