October 25, 2026
The North Lebanon Merchants Association welcomed the visit of the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, to the city of Tripoli and the North Governorate, describing it as a pivotal national stop that is the first of its kind for a President of the Republic to the region in 14 years.
In a statement, the president of the association, Asaad Hariri, praised President Aoun’s positions in support of state building, considering that the visit consolidated the presence of official institutions and restored respect to a region that “made sacrifices and remained loyal to legitimacy.” The association also appreciated the President of the Republic’s inspection of the port of Tripoli and his direct listening to the concerns of merchants and industrialists, stressing that this step touched upon the aspirations of the people of the North and highlighted the importance of economic and development files.
On the other hand, the statement expressed the association’s extreme astonishment at “the noticeable absence of a large number of northern representatives” from accompanying the visit and receiving the President of the Republic. The association stressed that reception represents “a national duty and a representative responsibility and not just a protocol,” considering that those who neglect this duty “are lagging behind the pulse of the people and their rightful economic demands.”
The association concluded its statement by emphasizing its adherence to President Aoun’s project aimed at extending the authority of the state and the law and achieving balanced development, calling for the necessity of completing the development path in the north and enhancing the presence of official institutions there, against the backdrop of the presidential tour that included a number of vital facilities in the city.
