On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, General Director of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Region, met with His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Joseph Aoun, at the Baabda Presidential Palace in Beirut. The meeting took place as part of a Mashriq delegation attending a seminar organized by the Syriac League to mark its golden jubilee.
The delegation, led by Habib Afram, President of the Syriac League in Lebanon, included prominent figures and representatives from Christian institutions in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The attendees discussed the rapid developments in the Mashriq countries and emphasized the importance of strengthening the Christian presence and safeguarding diversity in the region.
During the meeting, His Excellency General Joseph Aoun stressed that “the right to differ under the roof of the state is at the core of democracy and is a sacred principle, while disagreement is not allowed.” He reaffirmed his commitment to protecting diversity and promoting a culture of coexistence in Lebanon and the broader region.
Oghanna, for his part, highlighted the significance of the historic visit made by His Excellency to Baghdad and expressed hope that a similar visit to Erbil would follow, given its strong symbolism in supporting the Christian presence and reinforcing national partnership values. He also expressed his appreciation for the positive and hopeful messages conveyed during His Excellency’s recent meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, which strengthen the presidential role in advancing the causes of diversity and coexistence in the East.
It is worth noting that Oghanna ’s visit to Beirut was part of his participation in the celebrations organized by the Syriac League on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.
