UK 'Looks Forward' to 'Working with President Aoun'

Britain on Monday congratulated President Michel Aoun on his election as Lebanon's 13th president, saying it “looks forward” to cooperating with him.

“I congratulate General Michel Aoun on his election as President. His election brings an end to a two and a half year presidential vacuum and opens a new chapter for the country,” UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement.

“I hope this breakthrough will bring renewed hope to the Lebanese people, who want to see functioning institutions which deliver security, stability and prosperity for all,” Johnson added.

“I look forward to continued strong UK cooperation with Lebanon on the basis of commitment to the Baabda declaration; strengthened Lebanese institutions; and international agreements including U.N. Security Council Resolutions and the commitments made at the 2016 London conference,” Britain's top diplomat went on to say.

And noting that “this is a challenging time for Lebanon,” Johnson said Lebanon needs a “unifying leadership that works in the interest of all Lebanese.”

“The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to Lebanon and looks forward to working with President Aoun,” Johnson added.

Aoun's election ends a presidential void that lasted around two and a half years.

Analysts have warned that Aoun's election will not be a "magic wand" for Lebanon, which has seen longstanding political divisions exacerbated by the war in neighboring Syria and has struggled to deal with an influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

In addition to pledges of economic growth and security, Aoun said in his oath of office that Lebanon must work to ensure Syrian refugees "can return quickly" to their country.

Aoun also pledged to endorse an "independent foreign policy" and to protect Lebanon from "the fires burning across the region."