The Lebanese president’s visit came amid the 16-month-long Syrian crisis.
Gül welcomed his counterpart at the Çankaya presidential palace in Ankara. The two later held a bilateral meeting.
Following their meeting, the Turkish president, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, hosted a working luncheon in honor of his Lebanese counterpart. The luncheon was closed to the press.
The two leaders reportedly discussed regional issues, and in particular the Syrian crisis. Some sources also say the two discussed Arab and Turkish efforts to secure the release of 11 Lebanese citizens who were kidnapped in Syria. The Lebanese men were on their way back from a pilgrimage to Iran on May 22 when gunmen intercepted their buses in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.
Suleiman also met with Erdoğan, who was again accompanied by Davutoğlu and Fidan, at the Prime Ministry.
In June, Erdoğan discussed with his Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati, options for securing the release of the 11 Shiite pilgrims kidnapped by the Syrian opposition.
