President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, emphasized the importance of the Lebanese role in the diaspora, to help restore Lebanese economic recovery and limit the repercussions of the current situation on citizens who face daily difficulties.
The President also stressed the work to revive the Lebanese economy and recover the Lira value, calling on all to cooperate to achieve this goal especially the Lebanese in diaspora who can play an important role in this field.
Positions of President Aoun came while meeting a delegation from the Lebanese-Zimbabwean Friendship Association, today at Baabda Palace.
The delegation included Vice President, Engineer Mahdi Hassan, retired Brigadier General, Antoine Istanbouli, Lawyer Abbas Aidibi, Dr. Hussein Wannous, Mr. Kassem Murad, Lawyer Ahmed Aidibi, and Mr. Ahmed Murad.
In the meeting, the President was briefed on the role which the association plays in strengthening trade and economic relations between Lebanon and Zimbabwe, where Eng. Hassan stated that “The role of the Lebanese expatriate is very essential in moving the economic wheel and establishing productive, non-consumable investment projects in addition to creating job opportunities for the Lebanese youth”.
“Cooperation between Lebanese residents and expatriates on one hand, and the Lebanese state and countries of diaspora on the other, has become an imperative so that our country can advance and progress hence achieving common interests between Lebanon and brotherly countries. Our association will work to build a wide network of relations between the two friendly countries in order to achieve common interests, support trade and cultural exchange and enhance the role of the Lebanese community in Zimbabwe. Our association and its efforts will be the cornerstone for establishing diplomatic relations between both countries” Engineer Hassan added.
President Aoun:
For his part, the President welcomed the delegation and praised the Lebanese diaspora in various world countries, noting that former Foreign Minister, Gebran Bassil, worked to shed light on this diaspora and put it within the framework of institutions, by launching the initiative of the Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference, which is annually held in Beirut.
In addition, President Aoun emphasized the development of relations between Lebanon and Zimbabwe, and pointed to the importance of the association’s work and Lebanese community, in parallel with what the state is accomplishing through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and official institutions.
“You are the messengers to Lebanon abroad, and messengers to your host country in Lebanon. Relations between the two countries develop, improve and become more useful, through you” President Aoun said.
Moreover, the President stressed that “Development in Lebanon is a necessity, especially in this difficult period which Lebanon is going through in light of this unprecedented and great crisis. This crisis is part of the heavy legacy which we inherited from previous eras and as a result of the accumulation of crises which began with the huge debts which resulted from the state as result of corruption, waste of public funds and mismanagement. This burden has increased after the Syrian war and the closure of borders, in addition to the great impact of the Syrian displacement on various economic sectors. All that in addition to the impact of the October demonstrations and the Corona pandemic outbreak, leading to the great catastrophe which befell Lebanon after the Beirut Port explosion”.
“The burden is too great for a small country like Lebanon. A country whose economy is poor in production, and a country whose national currency was supported by increasing debts, while it would have been more useful to support the Lebanese pound by increasing national production” President Aoun added.
“Therefore, we are trying today to revive the Lebanese economy and recover the value of the Lebanese Pound. We call on everyone to cooperate to achieve this goal, especially the Lebanese diaspora who are able to play an important role in this field” the President concluded.
Source: National News Agency