REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE, ADDS DETAILS
By Hassen Djebril, Ikram Kouachi and Rania Abu Shamala
ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) - Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Sunday.
An Algerian Foreign Ministry statement said the discussions focused on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in economic fields.
According to the statement, Algeria reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lebanon in its role as the Arab representative to the UN Security Council.
The talks also covered regional developments, particularly the Palestinian issue, with both sides emphasizing the importance of continued coordination between the two countries.
During the meeting, Attaf delivered a written message from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Aoun reiterating Algeria’s full support for Lebanon’s efforts to restore institutional stability, security and economic growth.
The official Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that Attaf congratulated Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on the formation of the government and expressed his country's readiness to provide all necessary support to Lebanon in facing challenges in the coming phase.
Salam expressed his hope for strengthening relations between the two countries, particularly by accelerating activation of the Lebanese-Algerian High Joint Committee and the Algerian-Lebanese Business Council, which would positively impact the economies of both nations.
Attaf’s visit to Lebanon was part of a regional tour that also took him to Syria, where he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Last summer, Algeria provided aid to Lebanon by sending a tanker carrying 30,000 tons of fuel to help restart power stations amid a severe energy crisis.