Aoun: We Await a New Round of Negotiations... and Rely on Washington

President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun received a delegation from the "Task Force for Lebanon" led by Edward Gabriel at Baabda Palace, with the delegation members expressing their pleasure at meeting President Aoun, thanking him for his regular reception and continuous support for the organization’s work and its role in strengthening relations between Lebanon and the United States.

A dialogue took place between President Aoun and the delegation members, during which the President reaffirmed his gratitude and appreciation for the organization’s international and regional efforts, as well as the support it provides to Lebanon.

President Aoun spoke about the situation in Lebanon generally and in the south specifically, highlighting the success of his visit to Washington and the summit meeting he held with U.S. President Donald Trump. He referred to the Framework Agreement that Lebanon is fully implementing, acknowledging challenges within this framework but stressing that Lebanon does not wish to retreat—rather, it seeks to strengthen the agreement and achieve breakthroughs in key issues such as prisoners, borders, the experimental zone, and ceasefire. He emphasized that Lebanon relies on the United States, the sponsor of this agreement, which is serious, committed, and doing its utmost, having been highly supportive and instrumental.

On another note, President Aoun stated that Lebanon is awaiting a new round of negotiations “to see how progress can be made forward.” He said: “We have taken this initiative and remain committed to it, because, as I’ve said before, we face two choices: war or diplomacy. There is no third option, and we emphasize that war will lead to no outcome. Therefore, it is time to act, and this situation can only be addressed through diplomacy.”

President Aoun affirmed that addressing the issue requires a comprehensive governmental approach covering economic, social, and political aspects—not just military ones. The government, through ministries such as Energy, Public Works, and Communications, is present and doing its best to provide services to southern populations. At the same time, he noted that the Lebanese Army has excellent training, is professional and committed, but needs the necessary resources and means to carry out its duties.

Regarding the outcomes of President Aoun’s meeting with President Trump, the President highlighted the decision to open air links between Lebanon and America, disclosing that the Framework Agreement and the importance of UNIFIL’s presence in the south were discussed. Investment opportunities from the U.S. in Lebanon were also mentioned, along with a proposal for a strategic, economic, and security partnership with the United States.

Addressing the delegation, President Aoun stressed the importance of working to help Lebanon rebuild and reconstruct the south. Responding to a question, he reiterated that Lebanon will continue negotiations, saying: “Unfortunately, as I’ve said many times, Israel is not conducting this war wisely. It thinks tactically but overlooks the strategic level. As President Trump said, you don’t have to destroy an entire building just to kill one person. Massive destruction, broad military retaliation, and killing innocents are unhelpful—they don’t help us, nor do they help the United States. Israelis believe that by using force or raw military power, they can achieve their goals, but they never will.”

On reforms and combating corruption, President Aoun confirmed that Lebanon made significant progress last year in this area and took crucial measures. However, unfortunately, the war erupted, representing a major setback for Lebanon, forcing us to shift nearly all focus toward ending the war as quickly as possible. Now, we have returned to the right path and are reviewing the bank restructuring law, followed by the fiscal gap law. We have already begun drafting a set of laws aimed at fighting corruption, but the most critical element lies in two foundational pillars: first, e-government, which we are actively developing and making progress in; and second, the judiciary.

Regarding relations with Iran, he reiterated the necessity of establishing state-to-state relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

President Aoun concluded the meeting by stressing that Lebanon is extremely important to the United States and its interests, and that stability in the region cannot be achieved without stability in Lebanon and support for the Lebanese Army.

Rotary Delegation

President Aoun met with Regional Governor of Rotary District 2452, Mrs. Mie Chmaitli, and a delegation from the district. An overview was presented on the general situation in the country and what the Rotary organization could contribute to achieving the goals set by the President of the Republic and assisting Lebanese citizens in overcoming daily hardships during this difficult period.

During the meeting, Mrs. Chmaitli spoke, expressing Rotary members’ pride in this encounter, stating: “Rotary is not merely a club or association—it is a global humanitarian movement whose mission is based on the principle ‘Service Above Self,’ striving to turn values of solidarity and generosity into tangible projects leaving lasting impacts on people’s lives. In Lebanon, Rotary has been an active partner in serving society for decades, supporting health, education, and humanitarian sectors, and implementing projects in collaboration with institutions from Lebanon and various countries worldwide. What distinguishes Rotary’s work is that its presence is not limited to events, but is evident in projects that leave enduring legacies after initiatives conclude.”

Among the notable projects implemented in Lebanon are those ensuring clean water for over a thousand public schools, where Rotary equipped schools with water purification systems using filtration and ultraviolet protection technologies to provide safer water for students. After the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, Rotary stood alongside our people and institutions, contributing to the rehabilitation and restoration of three major hospitals in Beirut—Al-Wardiyah, Karinta, and Al-Roum—at a time when the healthcare sector urgently needed support. These projects confirm that Rotary does not merely sympathize with crises but actively responds to them and collaborates with communities to find real solutions.

Mr. President,

This year, it is my honor to assume the position of Regional Governor of Rotary District 2452, becoming the first Lebanese woman to hold this post. I consider this achievement a responsibility rather than a mere recognition, conveying a message that Lebanese women are capable of leadership, contribution, and taking on responsibility—and that collective action is the path to change.

We have chosen this year’s slogan to reflect our vision: «We Lead with Impact… and Serve with Passion».

We want this impact to be clearly visible in people’s lives, and our actions to be investments in the future.

Therefore, we have decided that our largest development project in Lebanon this year will be a digital education initiative targeting public schools. Our goal is to establish integrated digital learning environments in several schools by equipping computer labs, providing computers and projectors, offering training for students and teachers, and introducing artificial intelligence and modern technology into the educational process. We believe education is the true investment in Lebanon’s future, and that students in public schools deserve equal opportunities to access knowledge and technology, regardless of their social or economic circumstances.

Mr. President,

The Rotary District I am honored to lead comprises nine countries: Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. From Lebanon, we wish to send a message to this region and to the world that despite all challenges, our country can be a space for dialogue, cooperation, service, and hope.

In this context, it is my privilege to request your esteemed patronage, on behalf of Rotary District 2452 and Rotary clubs in Lebanon, for the upcoming Regional Conference to be held in Lebanon on May 6, 7, and 8, 2027, expected to gather nearly a thousand Rotarians from across the region. Your patronage of this conference would be a great honor for us and a clear message of support for all who work for Lebanon, reflecting the Lebanon we believe in: an open Lebanon, a dialogue-driven Lebanon, a giving Lebanon, and a Lebanon capable of uniting people around the values of peace, service, and humanity.

Mr. President,

At Rotary, we believe nations are not built solely through words, but through actions and individuals who choose to be part of the solution. We have chosen to be part of the solution. We will continue working, continue partnering, and continue serving Lebanon, because we believe Lebanon’s future is worth investing in, and its people deserve hope and opportunity.

We lead with impact, serve with passion, and remain loyal to Lebanon. Thank you, Mr. President, for receiving us and for granting us this opportunity to express our commitment to serving our homeland.

President Aoun responded warmly to the delegation, thanking them for Rotary’s support to Lebanon and its people, praising the projects Rotary is carrying out in Lebanon, which demonstrate that shared responsibility is vital for Lebanon’s revival and for helping its people endure. He affirmed that there is no fear for Lebanon as long as people like the members of the Rotary delegation continue to dedicate every effort to helping others, firmly believing in their cause and their country.

Mhafouz

President Aoun discussed local conditions and prevailing political atmosphere with lawyer Eli Mhafouz. Following the meeting, lawyer Mhafouz spoke:

"I was honored to meet President Aoun, and the presidency has regained its presence, and the presidential palace has reclaimed its dignity under President Joseph Aoun. But we want the state’s authority restored—achieved when the republic’s decision is unified, its weapons unified, and sovereignty complete. Lebanon stands at a new stage, and it is wrong to approach it with the mindset of the previous era. Time is running short, and the window of opportunity available today will not remain open indefinitely. We must not get distracted by debates over legislative proposals that divert us from our core objective: restoring the state to its rightful place—a sovereign state with independent decision-making authority. We do not lack disagreements, but certain groups benefit from creating problems so that Lebanon remains a battleground. What is needed is governance will, not managing collapse.

It is clear that our President is leading a movement to reclaim the republic and restore Lebanese decision-making. In contrast, there are groups plotting to return Lebanon to the cycle of occupations, tutelage, and foreign alignments. Today, there is a genuine opportunity to rescue the republic, and we will not miss it. The President will not allow it to be lost, and I sensed his determination and seriousness to continue what he began upon assuming the presidency.

Thus, the question is no longer whether the armed group will surrender its weapons—but when. As for the fate of these weapons, our priority is not merely removing arms and militia logic from Lebanon. Therefore, the state must move from talk to action. This is the responsibility of the Council of Ministers, starting with dismantling military and security structures outside state control—including tunnels, storage facilities, command centers, and communication networks.

If we want a real, functioning state, it requires full state sovereignty—not fragmented sovereignty, no weapons outside state control, no security decisions outside state institutions, and no region in Lebanon beyond the republic’s authority. The armed group must understand that the era of maintaining its system outside state control has ended. Those who cooperate with the state will minimize losses; those who choose confrontation will bear full responsibility for their choice. The state is above all, sovereignty is indivisible, and the issue is no longer about rifles, missiles, or armories. The real question is: who holds the decision-making power of the Lebanese Republic? It is not about replacing one militia with another, nor about a temporary truce between state logic and armed logic. What is required is one army, one weapon, one decision, and one state.

The Rome negotiations are not merely a diplomatic checkpoint or a passing detail—they represent a pivotal moment in restoring the Lebanese state. Many people lament their significance, but it suffices that the President of the Republic leads these talks, not through intermediation by an regional state or a militia that seized Lebanese decision-making for years.

For the first time, Lebanon’s official institutions are managing the negotiation process. The importance of this path lies not just in negotiation itself, but in the state reclaiming exclusive control over its sovereign decisions, with the President of the Republic leading this process with confidence, affirming that the sole reference point is constitutional institutions, and that the era of multiple decision centers has ended permanently. The army continues fulfilling its duties increasingly without 'propaganda.' Whenever gunfire occurs in any area, arrests and detentions follow, and relevant state authorities—from the Presidency of the Republic to the Prime Minister’s office and concerned ministers—are informed. Notably, there has been no reaction to these steps, which is a promising sign of positive results. We do not demand anyone lose dignity or abandon their military and security presence. Rather, we seek to restore Lebanon’s dignity. We do not ask anyone to surrender, but to collectively surrender, as Lebanese, to the idea of the state.

There is a state that protects, negotiates, decides, and alone possesses the weapons and the authority. Lebanon is no longer in a gray zone. Either it becomes a fully sovereign state or continues in crisis. We have chosen the state. The President of the Republic travels across the world and will visit the Vatican. The head of the presidential palace has returned to receive and be received after years of complete isolation.

Therefore, what is needed today is not skepticism. If you are dissatisfied with the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister, what have you done in return? You destroyed homes, displaced people, invited occupation, and called on the state to rebuild. We have no other choice but to support the legitimacy represented today by the President of the Republic and the government, and to complete the sovereign and negotiation path. Let us stand together beside them and support legitimacy, because there is no alternative other than war and destruction.

Questioned: Are we entering a phase of political maneuvering to hand over weapons?

Answered: It is clear, based on information, that Hezbollah’s faction has become increasingly convinced, and that President Nabih Berri is now in this environment—there is no turning back, and the weapons will remain. The situation after the President’s visit to America differs greatly from before. The President is determined not to waste a single drop of blood. We deal with a faction whose identity, ideology, and science are Iranian, yet they are Lebanese—a matter of extreme sensitivity. War and conflict are no game. But the army maintains control as the state does. The evidence that no division or coup has occurred is the continued presence of the Shiite duo’s ministers and their refusal to withdraw—they will not withdraw.

Embassy Droubi

President Aoun was briefed by Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Hind Droubi, on preparations for the visit of the Director-General of the organization, Dr. Khalid al-Anani, to Beirut this week, as well as Lebanon’s role and engagement within the organization. Ambassador Droubi also updated President Aoun on ongoing preparations for the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November 15–16, 2024, in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, during which the next Secretary-General of the organization will be elected for a four-year term extending from 2027 to 2030. Currently, the organization includes 53 full member states, among them Lebanon, and the elected Secretary-General serves a four-year term renewable once.

Death Penalty Law

President Aoun published Law No. 68, recently approved by the Parliament, which abolishes the death penalty in Lebanon.