The new president, Joseph Aoun, upon his arrival to Parliament on Jan. 9, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour)
Syria's new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa called Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to congratulate him after his election to the presidency, the Lebanese president's office reported in a statement on Sunday.
"Joseph Aoun received a phone call from the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who congratulated him on his election as president, wishing him success in his new duties and stressing the fraternal relations between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples," Baabda Palace announced.
Aoun, in turn, spoke with Sharaa of "the importance of cooperation to resolve all pending issues between the two countries."
Syrian authorities said in a statement that during the call, the two leaders "confirmed their willingness to work towards building and strengthening relations between Syria and Lebanon, as well as the common points that unite them."
Aoun also spoke by telephone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Soudani, who conveyed his congratulations and emphasized the “fraternal” relations between Beirut and Baghdad. According to a press release from the presidential palace in Babdaa, Soudani reiterated Iraq's “continued support” and its willingness to help Lebanon “overcome the consequences” of the war. Aoun also received a congratulatory call from Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salmane al-Saoud.
The election of Aoun on Thursday ended more than two years of a vacuum at the head of the Lebanese state, as MPs failed 12 times to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, due to a lack of consensus. The former army commander won the presidential election in the second round of an open parliamentary election session, with 99 votes out of 128. During his acceptance speech, Aoun promised to adopt a "policy of positive neutrality" and to establish "the best relations with brotherly Arab countries."
Outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati made his first official trip to Damascus on Saturday since Assad was overthrown, making the first visit by a Lebanese head of state since the civil war in Syria broke out in 2011. Following the two leaders' meeting, Mikati told the press thatt mapping the land and maritime borders with Syria will be one of the "priorities" between to the two countries. He announced that a Lebanese-Syrian committee would be established to oversee this project.