Lebanese Ministry of Information
Minister of Information, Attorney Paul Morcos, representing President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, welcomed at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, two UAE planes with a number of Emirati nationals aboard who are visiting Lebanon for the first time, after the implementation of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s decision to lift the travel ban on Emirati citizens to Lebanon, starting May 7.
This comes following President of the Republic Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to Abu Dhabi.
Emiratis arriving at Rafic Hariri International Airport were welcomed with flowers and sweets. Airport security, in collaboration with other security agencies including General Security, Customs, and the Internal Security Forces, oversaw every detail and facilitated coverage of the event for Lebanese, Arab, and international media professionals, who packed the airport’s arrivals hall.
Also receiving the Emirati citizens arriving on “Emirates” and “Etihad” Airways flights had been Airport Chairman Kamal Nassereddine, Airport Security Chief Brigadier General Fadi Kfoury, Internal Security Forces Inspection Branch Commander, Brigadier General Izzat Al-Khatib, and officers from the airport security, the Internal Security Forces, and the General Security Directorate.
Minister of Information, Attorney Paul Morcos, welcomed the arriving Emirati citizens, who expressed their joy at returning to Lebanon, “which they love and have long awaited, as they consider Lebanon one of the most beautiful countries in the world.” They noted that they “feel like they are in their second home,” expressing their gratitude and joy at the warm welcome.
Speaking to media representatives at Beirut’s airport, Minister Morcos said: “This is a happy day in the history of Lebanese-Arab and Gulf relations. This is Lebanon’s natural position, welcoming our Emirati brothers and Gulf citizens, in general. Lebanon awaits the arrival of our citizens and brothers from the Arabian Gulf and all corners of the world, and is accompanying the arrival with exceptional media coverage and welcome, in the hope that it will be the beginning of developing relations and activating tourism between Lebanon and sisterly countries, specifically the Arabian Gulf.”
Minister Morcos added, “This is the foundation for the remaining achievements that the government can build upon under President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun, whom I am honored to represent today in this special coverage.”
Morcos continued: “Today’s initiative, in addition to this accumulation, will lead to revitalizating tourism in Lebanon and strengthening cooperation with these brotherly and friendly countries. We look forward to further ban lifting and encouraging travel to Lebanon, thanks to the measures taken by the government, starting with Beirut Airport extending to tourist centers, hotels, restaurants, and all the villages, towns, and tourist cities awaiting the arrival of tourists, particularly our Arab and Gulf brothers. Therefore, we are proceeding with these reform steps in this new presidential term, and we look forward to activating these visits with our Arab and Gulf brothers.”
Minister Morcos also stressed that the government is determined to eliminate any obstacles facing the arrival of Gulf brothers,
Morcos also thanked and congratulated the airport management, along with all their agencies, for ensuring this appropriate, transparent, and reassuring environment for our Arab and Gulf brothers as they return to Lebanon.
In turn, Airport Chairman Kamal Nassereddine noted that “the airport administration is working to provide all necessary facilities for arrivals and to reflect a positive image of Lebanon, starting with the airport,” highlighting the media’s role in portraying this image.
NNA
