Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, affirmed during his meeting with a delegation of Beirut MPs that "the direct negotiations are delicate and pivotal, and national responsibility must be unified in the coming phase, with the global attention focused on Lebanon."
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, President Aoun stressed that "the Lebanese state's objective in these negotiations is to consolidate the ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied southern territories, secure the release of prisoners, and resolve the outstanding disputes between Lebanon and Israel over several border issues."
President Aoun informed the parliamentary delegation that "approaching the post-ceasefire phase requires unity in national positions and comprehensive political solidarity with the state, so as not to weaken the Lebanese negotiating team's ability to achieve its goals, especially in terms of consecrating the ceasefire, which is considered as the gateway to moving forward with the negotiations. This option enjoys both local and international support, most notably reflected in what U.S. President Donald Trump announced during his phone call yesterday, where he expressed support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as the United States standing by the Lebanese people to end their suffering, restore recovery, and revive the economy, which has been negatively affected by the recent war."
Aoun added that "the Lebanese Army will play a fundamental role after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, in terms of deploying along the internationally-recognized southern border, ending armed manifestations, and reassuring southern residents upon their return to their towns and villages, that there will be no armed groups other than the army and legitimate security forces."
The President further emphasized that "the Lebanese people, who have endured much in recent years, are now before a new reality that has received both Arab and international support. This opportunity must not be wasted, as it may not come again."
The Beirut parliamentary delegation, comprising MPs Ghassan Hasbani, Fouad Makhzoumi, Nadim Gemayel, Adnan Traboulsi, Melhem Khalaf, Jean Talouzian, and Ibrahim Mneimneh, briefed President Aoun on the outcomes of the conference held yesterday under the slogan "Beirut: Safe and Weapon-Free," along with its issued decisions.
Members of the delegation expressed their support for President Aoun's positions.