Aoun thanks Oman for its 'constant' support, receives Foreign Affairs Minister

The head of Omani diplomacy, Badr al-Bousaidi, stressed on Wednesday from Baabda during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun the importance of “strengthening bilateral cooperation and relaunching the work of the joint commission” between the Sultanate of Oman and Lebanon.

Heading a delegation including Oman's ambassador to Lebanon, Ahmad ben Mohammad al-Saidi, and other officials, the visiting Omani Foreign Minister also emphasized the “solid relations” uniting the two nations, reports the official National News Agency (NNA).

Emphasizing his country's willingness to “relaunch the work of the joint commission between the two nations, sign agreements and memorandums of understanding and exchange economic and cultural information,” Bousaidi told Aoun of his “optimism for a better future for Lebanon, following the latter's election” to the presidency on Jan. 9.

He also invited Aoun to pay an official visit to the Sultanate “to discuss ways of strengthening and developing bilateral relations, in the interests of both brotherly countries.”

Aoun expressed his gratitude for Oman's “constant” support in all circumstances, notably through the dispatch of various types of aid. The President also expressed hope that “Omani flights to Lebanon will resume as soon as possible.” Turning to the latest developments in the region, Aoun expressed the hope that the Arab League's extraordinary summit on Gaza, to be held in Cairo on March 4, would “result in a united position” to face the current challenges, which are “interconnected” and target the “common interests” of Arab countries.

Bousaidi and his delegation met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East, the repercussions of the war with Israel, and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Lebanon and Oman.

"The meeting was very fruitful, reflecting the depth, strength and solidity of Lebanese-Omani relations. It expresses our shared aspirations for greater convergence, cohesion and cooperation between the two peoples and countries," Bousaidi said following the meeting.

The Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Bousaidi, arrived at Beirut's airport in the early afternoon and was welcomed by his Lebanese counterpart, Joe Rajji.

Gulf countries had interrupted relations with Beirut for several years. In 2021, tensions were heightened when Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states recalled their ambassadors to Beirut after a Lebanese minister criticized the Wahhabi kingdom's military intervention in Yemen.

The election on Jan. 9 of Aoun to the presidency, after a two-year vacancy, was welcomed by Gulf countries, notably Saudi Arabia, which sent its Saudi diplomatic chief Faisal ben Farhan to Beirut on Jan. 23 for the first time in 15 years.

Salam also met with U.N. Under-Secretary-General and U.N. Development Program Deputy Director Haoliang Xu, along with the program's resident representative in Lebanon, Blerta Aliko, to discuss ways to help boost Lebanon's economy.