Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (second from right) speaking with Lebanese President Michel Aoun (right) on Nov. 16, 2021 in Baabda. (Credit: Twitter / @ LBpresidency)
BEIRUT - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who arrived in Beirut on Monday, asserted during his visit to meet with Lebanese officials that “the country [Lebanon] will emerge stronger from this crisis, and Turkey will continue to play its role to encourage Lebanon’s development.”
Here’s what we know:
• The foreign minister stated that his country’s “only agenda in Lebanon is to ensure peace, calm and happiness” and went on to say that he hopes “Lebanon will use its resources not to suffer the cost of regional negotiations and instability but to help the population get back on its feet.”
• During a meeting with Minister of Economy Amin Salam, Çavuşoğlu expressed interest in “strengthening economic and commercial ties” between Lebanon and Turkey. Salam similarly encouraged “bilateral cooperation” between the two countries, which would allow Lebanon to benefit from Turkey’s consumption market.
• Following his meeting with president Michel Aoun, the Turkish foreign minister stated that they had discussed means of strengthening ties between the two countries.
• The diplomat’s visit includes, in addition to meetings with Lebanese politicians, the inauguration of developmental projects. Turkey has notedly offered support to the Lebanese Army and to Sunni communities in disadvantaged areas.
• Çavuşoğlu has scheduled a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.