Bulgarian President Roman Radev received on Monday his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in the capital, Sofia, in an official visit that included a military parade and an official reception in the presence of senior Bulgarian officials, followed by a bilateral retreat between the two presidents and extensive talks between the two delegations.
During a joint press conference after the summit, President Aoun stressed that the Lebanese Army's mission is "crucial" in extending the authority of the state and imposing its full sovereignty over all territories, stressing that the army "is the only one, without a partner from outside the state or from outside Lebanon, authorized to impose the sovereignty of the state over all its territory and borders."
Aoun called for an end to Israeli aggressions and Israel's withdrawal from the points it occupies inside Lebanese territory, considering that "the negotiation track is the only way to achieve national goals and safeguard Lebanon's supreme interest."
He pointed out that Lebanon has previously engaged in more than ten rounds of negotiations, the last of which was between 2020 and 2022 to demarcate the maritime border with Israel, stressing the state's adherence to limiting weapons to its hands alone.
On the regional front, Aoun expressed his support for the Gaza Agreement, calling for "its full implementation and expansion to include all crises in the region, in order to reach a comprehensive peace based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the principle of the two-state solution."
He also revealed the preparation of a memorandum of understanding between Lebanon and Bulgaria that "embodies the depth of bilateral relations and the convergence of visions on common issues", praising the judicial co-operation between the two countries, especially in the case of the Beirut port explosion.
For his part, Bulgarian President Radev welcomed his Lebanese counterpart, stressing his country's solidarity with Lebanon in the face of current challenges, and its readiness to contribute to reconstruction and enhance cooperation in the fields of agriculture, education, culture and technology.
He also praised the efforts of President Aoun and the Lebanese government to return the country to the path of stability, noting the importance of continuing the dialogue between the EU and Lebanon.