Baabda: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, received this afternoon at Baabda Palace the head of the Lebanese delegation to the direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, former Ambassador Simon Karam, with whom he reviewed the ongoing preparations for the meeting scheduled next Thursday in Washington between the Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations. President Aoun also gave Ambassador Karam his instructions, including Lebanon's constants regarding the negotiations, on the eve of his departure to Washington, D.C.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, President Aoun received a phone call from UK National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, during which they discussed the situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments resulting from the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon. President Aoun called on Powell to exert pressure on Israel to adhere to the ceasefire and halt the destruction and bulldozing operations in the southern villages and towns it occupies.