site.btaNational Assembly Chair Nazaryan, President of Lebanon Aoun Discuss Bilateral Relations

The restoration of parliamentary dialogue and the deepening of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Lebanon were discussed by the National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan and the President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Parliament Chair Kostadin Angelov and Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy Yordanka Fandakova, the Parliament's press service announced on Monday.

Nazaryan pointed out that this official visit is taking place ahead of the upcoming celebration in 2026 of the 60th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries. She expressed confidence that the visit will encourage ties in all areas of mutual interest. She also expressed desire to strengthen its ties with the Lebanese Parliament.

The National Assembly Chair said that Bulgaria understands the serious challenges facing Lebanon. She congratulated the new leadership and Aoun personally for their efforts to strengthen the statehood and well-being of the Lebanese people. She added that there are untapped opportunities in economic relations, culture, education, agriculture, among other areas.

Fandakova described the meeting as long-awaited and stressed that Aoun's high-level talks in Sofia would build on the long-standing partnership between the two countries. "We support and encourage all efforts, including those of Lebanon, to act as a stabilizing and responsible participant in the ongoing process of restoring peace and security in the Middle East," she said. The MP added: "As an EU Member State, I assure you that we remain committed to supporting the Lebanese authorities, and in this sense, we look forward to the upcoming meeting of the EU-Lebanon Association Council." She drew particular attention to the opportunities for partnership in innovation and technology.

Aoun said he greatly appreciated the invitation to meet with the Bulgarian Parliament. He noted that renewing the relations between Lebanon and Bulgaria would benefit both countries. in areas of common interest, such as the economy, culture, trade, transport connectivity, and defence. The President stressed that Lebanon is an important partner of the European Union in the field of security and is a line of defence for Europe, especially in the turbulent and challenging region of the Middle East.