President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, indicated that the talks he held with Governor-General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove featured high on the importance of reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis and to find an immediate way to secure the return of the Syrian refugees to their homeland.

“We focused on the necessity to reach political solutions to the Syrian crisis as well as on the necessity to find immediate solution to the Syrian refugees’ issue that contributes to their return to the safe areas,” Aoun told a joint news conference with Cosgrove, at Baabda palace on Monday.

“I informed [Cosgrove} of Lebanon’s demand to become an international center accredited by the United Nations for the dialogue of religions and civilizations,” Aoun said.

“I also asked for Australia’s support in defending our legitimate rights at the international stances, without ignoring the obligation of implementing the international resolutions, including resolution 1701,” he added.

“We have agreed on the need to activate bilateral relations at various levels and to develop mechanisms of cooperation,” added Aoun.

For his part, Cosgrove told reporters: “We discussed the relationship between Lebanon and Australia, which is based on social ties and the important role played by Lebanese immigrants in the development of Australia.”