President
Aoun: “We affirm the activation of cooperation between the two countries, and
we commend the support provided by Switzerland to Lebanon, especially after the
port explosion”.
Minister
Cassis affirmed Swiss readiness to provide the necessary assistance to Lebanon
in all fields.
Minister
Cassis stressed the need to find a political solution to the governmental
crisis in Lebanon and start necessary reforms.
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received Vice
President of the Federal Council and Swiss Foreign Minister, Mr. Ignazio Daniel
Giovanni Cassis heading a delegation including Swiss representatives and
officials of the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
Minister Cassis came to Lebanon to be briefed about the situation
and humanitarian projects supported by Switzerland in various fields,
especially after the explosion of the Beirut port, in addition to inspecting
the conditions of displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees.
The President thanked Minister Cassis for the Swiss assistance to
Lebanon in various fields, and stressed the activation of cooperation between
the two countries, noting in particular the support provided by Switzerland to
a number of hospitals, including the Karantina Hospital, schools, the Lebanese
Red Cross and Caritas.
Moreover, President Aoun stated the difficulties facing Lebanon
economically, financially and socially, and the repercussions of the Syrian
displacement on the various sectors in the country, calling for helping Lebanon
secure the return of the displaced Syrians to their country, especially to the
safe areas without awaiting a political solution, which may be delayed.
The meeting also addressed what Switzerland could offer to tackle
the economic and financial situation that resulted from transferring funds
abroad in mysterious circumstances.
In addition, the President reiterated the importance of completing
the forensic financial audit, which would reveal many ambiguous issues.
For his side, the Swiss minister expressed happiness for visiting
Beirut and inspecting the humanitarian projects that his country is taking care
of, stressing Switzerland's readiness to provide the necessary assistance in
all social, economic and financial fields. Minister Cassis also expressed his
appreciation to the Lebanese and for what they are doing to face the difficult
conditions that their country is going through, pointing out that Switzerland
works to accelerate the political solution in Syria and to return the displaced
Syrians as soon as possible.
Then, the Swiss Foreign Minister stressed his country's interest in
finding a political solution to the governmental crisis in Lebanon and
initiating the necessary reforms in order for the international community to
provide the necessary aid for economic advancement, pointing to the many
similarities between Lebanon and Switzerland.
The Swiss delegation included:
Minister Cassis’s wife, Paola Rodoni Cassis, Swiss ambassador to Lebanon,
Monika Schmutz Kirgoz, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the
Federation Council, Damian Muller, and a member of the committee, Ms. Andrea
Elizabeth GMUR-Schonenberger, Chairman of the Department of the Middle East and
Africa, Ambassador Maya Tissafi, advisor to Minister Cassis, Cedric Yannic
Stucky, and a number of the staff of the Swiss Embassy in Beirut.
On the Lebanese side: former
Minister, Salim Jreisatti, Director General of the Presidency, Dr. Antoine
Choucair, in addition to advisors: Brigadier General Boulos Matar, Rafic
Chelala, Antoine Constantine and Osama Khashab.
Word in Golden Record:
Before his departure, Minister Cassis wrote the following word in
the Golden Record:
“Mr. President, I extend my sincere thanks to you for receiving me
and the accompanying delegation in Beirut, which has gone through many tests
and was born again every time.
I can assure you of the solid friendship between Switzerland,
Lebanon and both peoples. I wish you good health and happiness”.