Azerbaijan to Open Representative Office in Ramallah

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, with Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov (dpa)
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, with Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov (dpa)
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Azerbaijan to Open Representative Office in Ramallah

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, with Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov (dpa)
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, with Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov (dpa)

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, sent a letter to the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, confirming his country's desire to boost bilateral ties and open a representative office soon, according to sources in the Palestinian presidency.

The message was delivered by Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who was at the Palestinian presidency in Ramallah on Thursday.

The sources said that Abbas briefed Bayramov and his accompanying delegation on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, especially since Azerbaijan heads the Non-Aligned Movement.

The President referred to Palestine's keenness to boost the solid historical relations with Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan recognizes the State of Palestine, which has an embassy in Baku.

The Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings of Aliyev, stressing his country's desire to improve brotherly ties.

Baku will soon open its representative office in Palestine, provide 25 scholarships for Palestinian students, and build a school in Nablus with Azeri funding.

Before concluding his visit to the region, Bayramov laid a wreath at the tomb of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and visited his museum.

The Director General of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, Ahmed Suboh, and the director of the Yasser Arafat Museum, Mohammad Halayqa, briefed the Azerbaijani Minister and his accompanying delegation on the details of the shows at the museum.

Bayramov asserted the close historical ties between Azerbaijan and Palestine, lauding the efforts of Arafat in consolidating them.

Earlier, Bayramov opened an Azeri embassy in Tel Aviv and met with several Israeli officials, led by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

He confirmed that Israeli-Azeri relations had moved to the highest cooperation and strategic and security partnership stages.

Netanyahu stressed that there are common regional challenges between Israel and Azerbaijan in light of the regional security challenges and Iran's threat to regional stability.



Critical Hours Ahead in Lebanon’s Presidential Election

In this picture taken on December 16, 2024, Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun walks towards the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
In this picture taken on December 16, 2024, Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun walks towards the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
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Critical Hours Ahead in Lebanon’s Presidential Election

In this picture taken on December 16, 2024, Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun walks towards the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
In this picture taken on December 16, 2024, Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun walks towards the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)

Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun is moving closer to becoming president ahead of a key parliamentary session to elect a new head of state.

Growing support from lawmakers and the withdrawal of Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Franjieh have boosted Aoun’s chances, raising hopes of ending a 26-month presidential deadlock.

Local and international efforts have intensified to secure Aoun’s election. With at least 74 votes in his favor, he is the frontrunner.

However, the total falls short of what’s needed to amend the constitution, which bars senior officials from being elected unless they’ve been out of office for two years.

Electing Aoun as president depends on securing 86 votes to amend the constitution.

This requires support from lawmakers in the Amal Movement, Hezbollah, and their allies (31 votes) or the Free Patriotic Movement, led by Jebran Bassil (13 votes).

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism ahead of the election session, saying: “For the first time since the presidential vacancy, I feel hopeful. God willing, we will have a new president.”

In a post on the X platform on Wednesday, Franjieh, who is the leader of Marada, said: "Now that the conditions are ripe for the election of a president tomorrow, I am withdrawing my candidacy, which has never been an obstacle in the electoral process."

He added that Aoun "enjoys the qualities that would preserve the standing of the country’s top post."

He hoped "the nation would overcome this stage with unity, diligence and responsibility."

Kataeb MP Elias Hankash said Lebanon needs a president who can revive the country, noting that “no foreign powers are dictating our choices, but the qualifications fit one, two, or three candidates, with Army Commander Joseph Aoun as the frontrunner.”

He added that Aoun enjoys broad international support and consensus but stressed that the constitution must not be used as an excuse to delay the election.

Similarly, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, speaking from Dar al-Fatwa, called for a consensual president who can implement Security Council Resolution 1701, boost the economy, and restore the judiciary.

He described Aoun as the best candidate to achieve these goals and pledged to support him in all voting rounds. Makhzoumi also urged Speaker Nabih Berri to cooperate to protect Lebanon and ensure stability.