The Iranian leader was greeted at the airport by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri representing President Michel Sleiman and a delegation of Hezbollah and Amal Movement politicians.
At the airport’s VIP salon, Speaker Berri welcomed Ahmadinejad and told him that the visit was extremely important and “thanks to our enemies it has become even more important.”
For his part Ahmadinejad said that enemies become even more savage when they see friends together. ‘This is another day for us and we are at the service of our beloved Lebanese,” Ahmadinejad said.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is scheduled to deliver a welcome speech during the welcome festival at the Raya playground in Beirut’s southern suburb organized by Hezbollah and the Amal movement to greet Lebanon’s extraordinary guest.
The Iranian president’s motorcade then started the journey to the Baabda Presidential Palace, where President Sleiman and his Iranian counterpart will hold a meeting.
Large crowds gathered at the Airport Road and greeted Dr. AHmadinejad with flowers and rice. “”Khosh Omadid (Presian for welcome) Ahmadinejad, friend of the people,” the crowds shouted.
Unconfirmed reports said that the Iranian president could extend his visit to Lebanon till Friday, when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan arrives in Beirut, and that a meeting could be held betwee the three leaders.
The Iranian president refused to take a helicopter to the presidential palace.
He got out of his vehicle and greeted back the emotional crowds.
Security was tight along the route from the airport to Baabda, as the Lebanese army, Hezbollah, and the Amal Movement were coordinating security measures.
Before his departure from Tehran, Ahmadinejad discussed regional affairs with Saudi King Abdullah by telephone.
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