Baabda: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, welcomed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at Baabda Palace to deliberate on the progress made by the ministerial committee in finalizing the government's ministerial statement. They also reviewed recent airport road incidents and the ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning the Israeli withdrawal from recently occupied territories in southern Lebanon.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Prime Minister Salam, after meeting with President Aoun, addressed the press, confirming the completion of the ministerial statement. Salam announced a cabinet meeting scheduled for next Monday at 4:00 p.m. to discuss and approve the statement. The discussions also covered the recent events that challenged freedom of expression, highlighting the government's firm stance on maintaining this constitutional right while condemning acts that damage public and private property or obstruct roads.
Salam emphasized the importance of expressing opinions peacefully, criticizing the recent attacks on UNIFIL and road blockages as unacceptable forms of protest. He discussed with President Aoun the necessity of enforcing the law against those who threaten security, underlining that such behavior will not be tolerated.
The dialogue also included measures to facilitate Israel's withdrawal from occupied areas, with Salam stressing the need for continued diplomatic and political efforts. He reiterated Lebanon's reliance on UNIFIL as a stabilizing force and condemned any attacks against it as crimes against Lebanon.
In addressing the air route between Lebanon and Iran, Salam highlighted concerns over airport and civil aviation safety amid European sanctions on Iranian airlines. He mentioned ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve issues related to repatriating Lebanese citizens from Tehran, proposing the deployment of Middle East Airlines planes or alternative arrangements via Turkey.
On another note, President Aoun met with US Senator Richard Blumenthal and US Ambassador Lisa Johnson. Senator Blumenthal conveyed greetings from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and confirmed the reactivation of US aid to the Lebanese army, emphasizing continued support for Lebanon. The meeting also covered the situation in southern Lebanon and the necessity for Israel's withdrawal by the stipulated deadline, with the American Senator affirming ongoing US efforts to support Lebanon's demands.