LAF Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun in a visit to Egypt

The LAF Commander General Joseph Aoun answered the invitation of the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces General Mohamed Farid to visit Egypt, in order to discuss the continuing support to LAF and the relation of cooperation between the two armies.
General Aoun began the visit by meeting the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Ali Al-Halabi and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production General Mohamed Zaki.
Al-Sissi stressed his pride in the close relations between Egypt and Lebanon at both official and popular levels, and in keeping with Egypt’s role of safeguarding the safety, security, stability and the national interest of Lebanon. Al-Sissi praised the key role played by LAF in maintaining stability and balance in Lebanon, as a part of the role of national armies, being the backbone of solidarity and stability of states.
General Aoun expressed his thanks for the invitation to visit Egypt, conveying the greetings of the President of the Republic General Michel Aoun, and stressing the desire of Lebanon to strengthen the close historical relations between the two countries, which are based on solidarity and fraternity, while expressing his country’s appreciation for the Egyptian effort in supporting Lebanon and LAF in all fields, as an extension of the Egyptian vital role in maintaining stability in the entire Arab region. The meeting covered the ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries and to benefit from the Egyptian expertise in many areas.
General Aoun then visited the Ministry of Defense, where a welcoming ceremony was arranged. He met with the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, General Mohamed Zaki. Discussion during the visit covered affairs related to the military institution. Zaki affirmed that directives of the Egyptian political leadership are clear in terms of supporting LAF through all available means to help it overcome the current economic crisis in Lebanon. He stressed the importance of LAF’s role in preserving the entity of Lebanon considering that without the LAF, the situation in Lebanon would be much worse.
The Army Commander also held a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid, during which he explained the situation of LAF, in view of the current economic crisis, and presented him with a file on the necessary needs to help carry out the required operational tasks. Farid stressed that the Egyptian Armed Forces are supporting LAF and ready to help it at this stage because it has an important and vital role in Lebanon. Discussion also focused on boosting cooperation between the Armed Forces of the two countries.
In conclusion, General Aoun laid a wreath at the mausoleums of the late President Anwar Al-Sadat and the Unknown Soldier.