Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati attend a welcoming ceremony in Ankara on Tuesday. (Credit: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office)
BEIRUT – Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced Tuesday that he and Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdoğan “agreed on a series of joint measures to enact bilateral cooperation” between their countries during a press conference following their meeting in Ankara.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement following Mikati’s visit to Turkey, Erdoğan said that a “joint economic committee” will be formed in “the first half of this year” along with a “joint committee to address issues lingering between the two countries.” The Turkish president also spoke about the importance of “enacting a free trade agreement between the two countries” and “continued cooperation in the energy, health, tourism, transport and private sectors.”
• Erdoğan expressed his country’s willingness to support “the reform efforts undertaken by the Lebanese government” and “an intent to increase [Turkey’s] aid to Lebanon as well as the cooperation in tourism and education and continued contribution to the [United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon].” The Turkish president mentioned initiatives such as “cooperating to digitize public services” and “the readiness of Turkish companies to execute important infrastructure projects, including the renovation of the Beirut port.”
• Mikati spoke of a “common will to maintain the best relations between the two countries, whether in politics, economy, tourism or any other sector” and noted that “trade relations between the two countries have increased.”
• The pair also addressed a “common interest” between the countries in addressing the matter of Syrian refugees and the need to “invest the necessary effort for their repatriation.”
• Mikati was accompanied on his official visit to Turkey by a host of ministers, who held meetings with their Turkish counterparts, including Tourism Minister Walid Nassar, the Energy Minister Walid Fayad, Environment Nasser Yassin, Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan, Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamiyeh and the Economy Minister, Amin Salam.
• During a visit to Beirut in November, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had invited Mikati to Turkey. During the press conference Mikati expressed his gratitude towards Turkey for its support to Lebanon, which has included aiding the Lebanese Army and supporting Sunni communities in disadvantaged areas.