The President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, confirmed that Lebanon is going through a decisive and fateful phase, in light of the ongoing direct negotiations, stressing that “the national responsibility must be one,” while “the eyes of the world are directed toward Lebanon.”
During his meeting with a delegation of Beirut MPs, Aoun explained that the state’s position is based on “consolidating the ceasefire, securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied southern territories, recovering prisoners, and addressing the outstanding border disputes.”
He added that “the ceasefire constitutes the basic entry point to proceed with the negotiations,” noting that this path enjoys support at the local and external levels, and this is clearly evident in “what US President Donald Trump announced during the phone call yesterday, in support of Lebanon, its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity,” in addition to the United States’ support for the Lebanese people “to end their suffering and reactivate their economy.”
Regarding the security situation, the President of the Republic stated that “the Lebanese army will play a fundamental role after the withdrawal of Israeli forces,” by deploying along the southern international border, eliminating any armed manifestations, and “reassuring the southerners after their return to their villages that there are no armed forces outside the framework of the army and the legitimate security forces.”
Aoun concluded his speech by emphasizing that the Lebanese “are facing a new opportunity supported by the Arabs and internationally,” calling for exploiting it, because “this opportunity may not be repeated.”
The President of the Republic’s statements come at a critical stage in Lebanon, as negotiations coincide with developments on the ground following the establishment of a ceasefire, which places the state before a real challenge in managing the transitional period between war and stability.
The issue of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south is considered one of the most important issues at hand, in addition to the recovery of prisoners and the resolution of border disputes, which are interconnected issues and form the basis of any permanent agreement.
The role of the Lebanese Army in the next phase also appears as an essential element for re-imposing state sovereignty, especially in the southern regions, in light of increasing international pressure to strengthen the presence of legitimate institutions and control the security situation.
On the other hand, talk about American and international support for Lebanon reflects efforts to revive the economy, which was greatly damaged by the war, which makes any political progress linked to Lebanon’s ability to benefit from this support and transform it into real reforms and actual stability.
Among the security and economic challenges, Lebanon faces an exceptional opportunity to rearrange its internal priorities, amid warnings that any failure may return the country to the cycle of crises.
