2025-03-28T17:46:20+00:00

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Shafaq News/ France provided resources to Syrian President
Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to help prevent arms
smuggling, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday.

Macron stated in a joint press conference with Aoun at the
Élysée Palace that they reaffirmed the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria, as
well as the importance of demarcating their borders, and revealed that efforts
would be made at the United Nations level to formalize the border demarcation
process.

He expressed confidence in Syria’s transitional
administration as a step toward lifting sanctions. “We are ready to welcome President
Al-Sharaa,” he noted, stressing that before Syrian refugees can return
home, a political framework must be established to reflect the country’s
diverse society.

For his part, Aoun called on France to support efforts for
their repatriation and demanded international financial backing to facilitate
the return of around 400,000 Syrian refugees. “The reasons for their
displacement no longer exist,” he said.

Following a joint
press conference, Aoun and Macron continued their bilateral talks. During the discussions
President Aoun affirmed his commitment to implement reforms, which practically
have already begun with the appointment of a new governor for the Central Bank
of Lebanon, indicating that “the appointments and procedures will soon be
completed, ensuring Lebanon is ready ahead of the World Bank and International
Monetary Fund meetings,” according to the Lebanese official news agency NNA.

“Today’s Israeli attacks have topped the
discussion, with President Macron promising to contact President Trump and
Netanyahu to discuss the situation and work to enable the monitoring committee
to carry out its work, in accordance with the agreement reached last November,”
NNA quoted the Lebanese President.