President Joseph Aoun (third from the left) on an official visit to Bulgaria. (Credit: National News Agency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is set to conclude his visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday, expressed regret during a meeting with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov that Beirut’s requests for the international community to exert pressure on Israel have produced “no positive results.”
According to remarks reported by the National News Agency (NNA), Aoun stressed that a stable Lebanon serves Europe’s interests, while assuring that the situation in Lebanon is “better than before.”
He also urged international pressure on Israel to comply with U.N. Resolution 1701. Despite the cease-fire agreement signed in November 2024 that ended more than 13 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, the latter continues to occupy several positions in southern Lebanon and conducts daily attacks on Lebanon.
Aoun is in Bulgaria at the invitation of President Rumen Radev, whom he met on Monday, as part of a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and advancing regional cooperation.
During his meeting with Zhelyazkov, the two leaders "discussed ways to enhance cooperation in military, educational, cultural and technological fields," NNA reported. They agreed that the foreign ministers of both countries would soon meet to draft a comprehensive memorandum of understanding.
Aoun also called for the resumption of direct flights between Beirut and Sofia and proposed sending a Bulgarian delegation to Lebanon to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Bulgarian speaker welcomes cooperation on investigation of Aug. 4 Beirut Port explosion
Aoun also met Bulgarian Speaker of the National Assembly Raya Nazaryan, who praised Aoun's leadership and expressed "support for Lebanon’s recovery efforts." She invited Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to visit Sofia and called for the reactivation of the Lebanese-Bulgarian parliamentary friendship committee.
Nazaryan also welcomed cooperation with the Lebanese judiciary in the investigation of Igor Grechushkin, owner of the ship that carried the ammonium nitrate that caused the Beirut Port explosion, offering virtual participation in the Bulgarian inquiry.
A Bulgarian court on Monday adjourned an extradition hearing for the shipowner wanted over the devastating Aug. 4, 2020, blast at Beirut port, asking Lebanon to confirm he would not face the death penalty.
Lebanon wants Bulgaria to extradite Grechushkin, who was arrested on Sept. 5, 2025, at Sofia airport, and is accused by Lebanese judicial authorities of "introducing explosives into Lebanon, a terrorist act that resulted in the death of a large number of people, disabling machinery with the intent of sinking a ship," according to Bulgarian prosecutors.
Aoun reaffirmed "Lebanon’s determination to uncover the full truth behind the tragedy." He is expected to conclude his visit and return to Beirut later today.
Foreign Minister Joe Rajji also traveled with the delegation to Sofia and met with his Bulgarian counterpart, George Georgiev. During the meeting, he too raised the issue of the owner of the ship that transported the ammonium nitrate responsible for the double explosion on Aug. 4 to the port of Beirut, insisting on the importance of uncovering the "truth" and achieving "justice." Rajji expressed his gratitude to the Bulgarian government for its "cooperation" in the case, as the captain is currently being held by the Bulgarian authorities.
For his part, Georgiev reaffirmed his country's willingness to "cooperate fully within the legal framework" and to do whatever is necessary to help advance this case, which is "now in the hands of the justice system," he said.
The meeting also focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Lebanon and Bulgaria. The two sides agreed to encourage investment in the tourism sector, to study the possibility of reestablishing direct flights between Beirut and Sofia, and to facilitate visa procedures for Lebanese citizens wishing to travel to Bulgaria.
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