Baabda: President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Monday expressed hope that negotiations in Rome would produce "tangible and practical" progress, leading to an Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in evacuated areas.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Aoun, during meetings at Baabda Palace, stressed national unity, emphasizing that Lebanon must "speak with one voice" and that loyalty should be to the nation rather than personal interests. He reiterated his firm stance on southern Lebanon, asserting that he "will not compromise on southern Lebanon or Lebanon's rights," and highlighted that the framework agreement explicitly calls for a full Israeli withdrawal, affirming that Israel has no territorial claims on Lebanon.
Addressing a delegation from the Islamic Ameli Association, Aoun expressed that only the Lebanese Army and the state can offer protection to citizens, invoking Imam Musa al-Sadr's endorsement of strengthening state institutions. He justified his preference for diplomacy over warfare, arguing that previous conflicts failed to meet their objectives and that negotiations are the best route to ensure Israeli withdrawal, the return of displaced residents, prisoners and remains, and reconstruction. Ahead of his visit to Washington, he indicated plans to urge U.S. President Donald Trump to exert pressure on Israel to adhere to the framework agreement.
Aoun also held discussions with a delegation from The Elders, led by Gra§a Machel, and including former Irish President Mary Robinson and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. He reiterated that diplomacy, not war, is the only path to lasting peace, cautioning that Israel's ongoing military strategies cannot guarantee security, and urged the international community to advocate for the implementation of the framework agreement.
In separate meetings with former UN official Sigrid Kaag, representatives of the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP), and MP Wael Abou Faour, Aoun emphasized the importance of supporting youth, fortifying state institutions, attracting investment, and advancing Lebanon's recovery through stability and dialogue.