Lebanon’s newly-elected President Michel Aoun on Monday met with an envoy from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement, the Lebanese Presidency said Aoun had received Syrian Minister for Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam at Beirut’s Baabda Palace.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Azzam said he had conveyed a congratulatory message from Assad and the Syrian people to the new Lebanese president.
He went on to hail the deep relations between Syria and Lebanon.
Monday’s visit comes shortly ahead of a planned visit to Lebanon by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif -- whose country is a staunch supporter of the Assad regime -- to congratulate Aoun on his election last week.