Baabda Palace witnessed a series of political, ministerial and economic meetings, which dealt with international support for Lebanon, reforms, energy, industry, and the negotiating path led by the Lebanese state in light of the rapid regional transformations.
President Joseph Aoun received a Qatari, French and British ministerial delegation, stressing that stability and security in Lebanon are important not only for the region, but also for Europe, stressing that stability in the region and Europe cannot be secured without Lebanon’s stability.
Aoun told the delegation that standing by Lebanon is extremely important, not only from a humanitarian perspective, but also in continuing to support the army and security forces, as they are the guarantee of security and stability, and the pillar of Lebanon’s advancement and its launch on the path of recovery.
The President of the Republic stressed that the path of economic, financial, administrative and judicial reforms is a basic Lebanese demand before it is a demand of friendly countries supporting Lebanon, pointing out that the war hindered for a period the reforms that the government had previously launched immediately after its formation.
Aoun stressed that Lebanon does not only need aid, but rather investments, pointing out that the Lebanese in diaspora will contribute to the advancement of their homeland, and the state must prepare for them the necessary ground for reforms that constitute a guarantee for this advancement, and encourage them to return and invest in their homeland in various fields.
He said: “What we are doing is restoring external confidence in Lebanon, in addition to restoring the Lebanese people’s confidence in their state,” placing reforms at the heart of rebuilding the relationship between the state and its citizens, and between Lebanon and its partners abroad.
Regarding the energy file, President Aoun presented with the Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Seddi, the stage reached in the electrical interconnection file with Cyprus, and the importance of reactivating oil transportation lines between Iraq and Lebanon, within the framework of searching for strategic options that enhance energy security and open the door to broader regional cooperation.
Aoun also met with the Director General of the Industrial Research Institute, Dr. Bassam Frenn, and learned from him about the work of the Institute in various fields, especially the research it conducts within its jurisdiction, in the context of interest in developing productive sectors and supporting Lebanese industry.
Regarding the political issue, the President of the Republic met with Representative Mark Daou, who stressed after the meeting the necessity of continuing the negotiating path led by the Lebanese state, and working to achieve the greatest possible national results.
Daou considered that the developments taking place in the region, especially the regional understandings and the US-Iranian agreement, open a political window that Lebanon must invest in, in a way that strengthens the position of the Lebanese state and prevents Lebanon from being turned into an arena in which its arrangements are drawn up outside its institutions.
These meetings come at a critical moment, as Lebanon is trying to establish its official presence in the negotiation process, in parallel with the search for international support for the army and security forces, and to re-mobilize the energy, investment and reform files. Between security and the economy, it seems that Baabda is working to link internal stability to rebuilding confidence, and making the Lebanese state the only party capable of negotiating on behalf of Lebanon and launching the path of recovery.
