The Lebanese president general Michel Aoun began an official visit in France on September 25, 2017, accompanied by the First Lady Nadia Chami Aoun and a delegation of Lebanese ministers and officials. With a rich schedule, this visit includes a summit between the Lebanese president Michel Aoun and the French president Emmanuel Macron, also meetings with the high ranked officials of the French state.
French- Lebanese summit at Elysee palace
During the summit between the two presidents, the current issues were discussed, including the application of decision 1701 of the United Nations, the return of Syrian refugees in secure zones in their country, refusing their establishment in Lebanon under any condition. The Lebanese president also requested the support of president Macron regarding the demand presented to the United Nations to make Lebanon a center for dialogue between civilizations and different religions. The euro-Mediterranean partnership was also raised, the Lebanese having asked to revive it.
On his side, president Macron supported the political direction adopted by Lebanon regarding the Syrian crisis, to stay out of the conflict, which consolidates the country’s stability, reassuring him of the continuous French support that support the Lebanese army and accompanies all the international efforts aiming to help Lebanon.
Official French Lebanese dinner
For the official French Lebanese dinner on September 25th at Elysee palace, the First Lebanese Lady, Mrs Nadia Aoun seduced the press and the guests, wearing a cocktail dress in dark blue silk with lace embroidery, hand embroidered by the Lebanese international designer Rani Zakhem.
Visit to the Hotel de Ville
Part of his official visit to Paris, president general Michel Aoun visits Hotel de ville.
During his encounter with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, the president declared: «Paris and Beirut work together to protect the values of peace, liberty and democracy».
The mayor Anne Hidalgo pronounced a speech in which she declared: «There is no war or terrorist action that could annihilate the spirit of liberty that characterizes Lebanon, without the Lebanese Paris would not be exactly what it is today».
Meetings with French ministers
The president received in the morning of September 26, 2017, at his Plaza Athénée hotel in Paris, the Finance minister Bruno Le-Maire and the Foreign Affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in the presence of members of the Lebanese delegation. Discussions with the two ministers were centered on the topics discussed between the two presidents at Elysee Palace, namely the three congresses scheduled in favor of Lebanon: A congress in favor of the Lebanese army, a congress aiming to encourage investments in Lebanon and a congress related to the refugees crisis.
Visit of the Senate
Part of his official visit to France, the president general Michel Aoun visited the Senate where he was welcomed by the president of Senate Mr Gerard Larcher with the Lebanese delegation. President Larcher said he was happy to welcome the Lebanese delegation, insisting on the importance of French Lebanese relations and the role of the Senate in their development, mainly after the return of Lebanon to a constitutional life with the election of president general Michel Aoun. The meeting was followed by a lunch in honor of the president and the Lebanese delegation.
Visit of Matignon
At the end of his busy day filled with meetings, president Michel Aoun met with the prime minister Edouard Philippe at Matignon. President Aoun insisted that Lebanon wants peace and respects international decisions but Israel doesn’t cease its attacks putting the stability of the country at stake. He also evoked the refugees issue that represent a heavy weight on Lebanon. The country can’t wait for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, the return of the Syrian refugees in their country should take place as quickly as possible.
The two First Ladies Nadia Chami Aoun and Brigitte Macron visited Dior exhibition, Christian Dior Couturier du rêve
Part of the official visit of the presidential couple to France, the First Lady Nadia Chami Aoun was invited by the French First Lady Brigitte Macron to visit the museum of decorative arts, to enjoy the Christian Dior exhibition on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dior house. More than 300 Haute Couture dresses from 1947 until our days are showcased, but also fashion photographies, documents, paintings and art objects. The First Lady praised the artistic and eclectic beauty of the exhibition, insisting on the role played by Christian Dior in the feminine liberation and elegance, while thanking Mrs Macron and wishing the Dior house a continuous success.
