Toast delivered by Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland at Official Banquet Lunch hosted by President Aoun and First Lady Aoun
Hall of the 25th May, Presidential Palace, Beirut, Thursday, 17th October 2019
Toast delivered by
Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
at Official Banquet Lunch
hosted by President Aoun and First Lady Aoun
Hall of the 25th May, Presidential Palace, Beirut
Thursday, 17th October 2019
Your Excellency President Aoun, Mrs Aoun,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for your warm words of welcome and the wonderful Lebanese hospitality you have offered to me and Sabina, and the accompanying Minister on this visit Mr Paul Kehoe T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for Defence.
Ireland and Lebanon have always enjoyed excellent bilateral relations, and there exists a great warmth among Irish people for this country with which we share so much in common. As small nations, who have had to struggle to establish our political and economic independence, we are bound together through our similar histories and the mutual respect that exists between our two countries.
Toast
Celebrating all that we have shared and will continue to share in friendship and the relationship that has been further strengthened by this visit may I now invite you all, distinguished guests, to stand and join me in a toast:
To the good health of President Aoun and Mrs Aoun,
To the peace and prosperity of the people of Lebanon;
To the continuing friendship and strengthening ties between our two peoples.
Sláinte! Keskun!
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.