09 February 2017

BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun will visit Jordan and Egypt next week upon formal invitations from the leaders of both countries, he told ministers during Wednesdays Cabinet session.

President Michel Aoun informed Cabinet that his trip will come after he received invitations from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II, Information Minister Melhem Riachi told reporters after Cabinet was adjourned.

Aoun informed the ministers that the two trips were part of a drive to improve ties between Lebanon and Arab countries, according to Riachi.

The trip will also address the Syrian refugee crisis and solutions. The economic, social and safety situation are [negatively] affecting Lebanon because of its population and geographic capacity, Riachi said.

There are currently around 1.03 million Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, but the government estimates the number to be over 1.5 million.

Aouns trip will be his second official state visit since being elected on Oct. 31, 2015 following a trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar last month.

Relations between Lebanon and key Arab states deteriorated over the last few years, culminating with Saudi Arabia revoking a multibillion-dollar military aid deal for the Lebanese Army and security forces last year. Saudi Arabias move came after Lebanon refused to label Hezbollah as a terrorist group at an Arab League meeting last year.

The announcement of the new visits comes after Saudi Minister of State for Arab Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan announced earlier this week that a travel advisory against Saudi nationals visiting Lebanon would be lifted. He also announced that a new ambassador to Lebanon would be appointed in the near future, and that the kingdoms national carrier, Saudia Airlines, would increase flights between the country and Lebanon.

Separately, Aoun called on Lebanons justice minister to file a lawsuit against those responsible for the New Years Eve shooting in Istanbul that took the lives of three Lebanese nationals and wounded six others, and killed and wounded scores of others.

President Michel Aoun requested Justice Minister Salim Jreissati to contact the families of the victims of the terrorist attack ... to ask for permission for the Lebanese government to bring those responsible for the attack to justice, a statement from Aouns office said Wednesday.

The statement added that there will be contact with Turkish authorities to follow up. The act seeks to safeguard the rights of the Lebanese victims affected by the attack, the statement said. A gunman opened fire on partiers at an Istanbul nightclub on New Years Eve, leaving 39 dead and 70 wounded. The bodies of the three Lebanese nationals killed were brought back days after the attack. Last month, Turkish authorities detained suspect Abdulgadir Masharipov, who allegedly confessed to the shooting. Daesh (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the massacre.

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