Aoun: Negotiations Aim for Israeli Withdrawal, Prisoner Release, and Reconstruction

Republic President Joseph Aoun reported that "some fuel sectarian and denominational tensions for personal interests at the expense of their homeland, and there are those who cooperate with external forces against their Lebanese brothers internally; this is our problem in Lebanon, whereas we should strengthen ourselves internally against the other externally."

President Aoun said, before a delegation from the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church led by Patriarch John X Yazigi, that "the primary objective of negotiation is to achieve Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands, the liberation of prisoners, the return of displaced persons, reconstruction, and the deployment of the army across all Lebanese territory. There is no disagreement in Lebanon regarding these objectives; rather, the difference lies in the method and manner of achieving them."

He considered that "the course of wars always differs from what both warring parties expect, as wars cannot end except through negotiation and dialogue, while their continuation leads to more destruction, victims, and blood," stressing that "when the south is wounded, the wound extends to all of Lebanon, and the state is responsible for its citizens. However, the wars imposed upon us negatively reflected on the path of restoring institutions to the south and on achieving many accomplishments, noting that a qualitative leap was recorded in many fields, particularly regarding economic, financial, administrative, and judicial reforms."

He clarified that "our primary goal is to rebuild trust between the people and the state, and between resident and expatriate Lebanon. Our unity is fundamental, as we have one homeland, one flag, and one identity. Lebanon, as Pope John Paul II said, is a message, and it is rich in its diversity and pluralism, and we must benefit from this feature."

In turn, Patriarch Yazigi told President Aoun: "We are in an unconventional time that required you, with wisdom and insight, to take unconventional decisions to navigate Lebanon through the mines of international politics that have exploded and continue to explode into axis conflicts. We are here with you, Mr. President, in your role that placed you before your historical responsibility, and we trust in your wisdom."

He affirmed "that we, as Eastern Christians, see in Lebanon based on parity as a symbol of our Christian presence in this East. We remain in it as the cedar remains in Lebanon, emphasizing the necessity of extending a hand to our Muslim brothers to uplift this country."