How Did President Aoun Describe the Role of Media in Conveying Truth and Its Impact on National Security?

President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun stressed the role of media in "conveying the message with integrity," considering that "media is a weapon that can be constructive or destructive." He reaffirmed that "the goal we are working towards is stopping the war, achieving Israeli withdrawal, saving and rebuilding the South, returning prisoners, and bringing back displaced persons so that the war does not expand to cover all Lebanese territories," noting that "negotiations may have slowed down, but this does not mean they have stopped."

Aoun's positions came during his reception earlier today at Baabda Palace of a delegation of third-year and Master's students in Media from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), headed by university professor Danny Haddad, who thanked President Aoun for receiving him and the delegation, pointing out that "his positions give hope to the young generation to cling to and remain on their land."

President Aoun responded by welcoming the delegation, saying: "When I say media and the Holy Spirit University, I remember Pope Saint John Paul II, who used to say 'Media people are the messengers of this era.' The messenger's duty is to announce the truth and bear witness to it as a means to achieve the common good for humanity; this is the mission of true media. As I said once and repeat, unfortunately, we live in an era described by one thinker as one where truth has become boring while lies have become exciting. Therefore, some people prefer lies even if they know they are lies, and avoid truth even if they know it is truth. Examples in our world and daily life are countless."

President Aoun stressed the role of media in "conveying the message with integrity in a time when some use their profession to blackmail people or sell their pen for personal and material goals sometimes." He recalled key statements about media and its role in society, considering that "media is a weapon that can be constructive or destructive," citing as an example "the seizure of an explosives shipment on the Dar al-Baydar road and how media dealt with it by preempting the investigation which proceeds away from what is being circulated," noting that "everything unrelated to truth harms the country and its reputation."

The President addressed the delegation saying: "Your duties are to convey the truth no matter how difficult it is, so be its messengers, because Lebanon's interest and future lie in what you write. Therefore, do not sell your pen and work according to your conscience."

He stressed "the necessity for media professionals to possess ethics, which are the foundation of all professions," noting that "criticism in politics is a right but let it be constructive, and violating personal dignity is unacceptable." In this context, he pointed out that "the goal of some media outlets is financial gain and blackmail, not national interest." He affirmed freedom of expression and media, but said: "There is no absolute freedom, because it then turns into chaos."

He added: "National security forms the ceiling of freedom, as happens in the most advanced democracies in the world. Some of what is said in media is unrelated to truth, and its goal is to destabilize stability for external interests and agendas, or to undermine security for personal interests."

Then a dialogue took place between President Aoun and the students. Responding to a question about the lack of judicial intervention when the ceiling of freedom is exceeded, he stated that "under the new media law, the Public Prosecution is preparing how to pursue legal action," noting that he previously refused, when he was Army Commander, "to file lawsuits against those who attack him, but there must always be limits."

The President spoke about the news presented regarding Lebanese Ambassador to Washington Nada Moawad for not denying the news of contacting the Israeli ambassador after targeting her son, which was reported by an Israeli news channel. He asked: "On what basis did media start highlighting this issue and violating her personal dignity and the state's foreign policy over an event that did not happen, starting to discuss it far from truth and reality?" He said: "If the goal of whoever does this is to target the path we took to end the state of war and save Lebanon, then he is a criminal against the country."

Responding to a question, he said: "The goal we are working towards is stopping the war, achieving Israeli withdrawal, saving and rebuilding the South, returning prisoners, and bringing back displaced persons so that the war does not expand to cover all Lebanese territories."

He added: "Had we not resorted to negotiation, Israeli aggression would have reached Beirut and various public facilities."

Regarding the negotiation track, President Aoun did not deny the existence of difficulties facing it, but gave examples of numerous negotiation tracks that took years to reach desired solutions, noting that "regional and international developments and Israeli elections may have slowed the pace of negotiations, but this does not mean they have stopped given the continued contacts led by Ambassador Moawad with the US administration to push them forward."

He reaffirmed that "there is no third option between war and negotiations, and if anyone has any other option, let them tell me," indicating that "wars usually end either by one party achieving a crushing victory over the other who surrenders, or through negotiation." He said: "I am responsible for what I do; whoever cannot bear the responsibility of their position should not hold it."

President Aoun addressed the delegation saying: "You, like all Lebanese students and youth, are a trust in my neck, and I will do the impossible for you to stay in Lebanon." He spoke about the existence of "a Lebanese team that is the opposite of the state because its role ends immediately upon its establishment," calling, while discussing the political system in Lebanon, "everyone to put the public interest above all else."

He mentioned that "there are difficulties but no impossibilities, and proof of this is the set of achievements that have been realized, which are not sufficiently highlighted, while negatives are focused on only." Citing as an example among others, he pointed to "Lebanon joining the membership of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) port club with the ports of Tripoli and Beirut, whereas several countries signed with only one port, in addition to the US President signing a presidential decree canceling previous restrictions and presidential decisions imposed on air transport with Lebanon, and maritime border demarcation with Cyprus."

He also spoke about the Dar al-Baydar highway, for which the Minister of Public Works tendered work at a cost lower than previously rumored, the Qlayaat Airport, the Rashid Karami Exhibition, ports, and the economic zone in the North, asking: "Are these not all achievements that should be highlighted?"

He referred to what "Lebanon achieved in growth last year at a rate of 4% with a surplus achieved by the Ministry of Finance worth $1.3 billion, and an increase in Bank of Lebanon's hard currency assets by $2 billion," saying: "We expected a 6% rate this year, but the war prevented that."

While inviting delegation members to "be positive," he discussed talk about "movements due to rising oil prices," noting that "the rise is due to the ongoing war in the Gulf, whose effects impact the entire world," pointing out that "what also affects this is the ongoing war in addition to merchants' greed," stressing that "the state is working to alleviate the burden of the economic situation as much as possible."

After the meeting, the student delegation toured the halls of the Presidential Palace and the Cabinet Hall, and the sections of the Media Office, where the Director of Media at the Presidency, Mr. Rafiq Shallala, provided them with a detailed explanation of the office's tasks, its method of operation, and how it covers the activities of the President of the Republic, the First Lady, and the Directorate General of the Presidency.

Shahada and Shammas

In addition, President Aoun received, in the presence of Minister of Displaced Persons and State Minister for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shahada, Honorary Consul of Lebanon in San Francisco George Shammas and BeryTech Association President Marwan Shammas. Consul Shammas informed the President about the work to establish a bridge of communication between Lebanon and the Lebanese community in San Francisco to launch projects concerned with digital transformation and artificial intelligence in Lebanon. Marwan Shammas also informed President Aoun about BeryTech Association organizing a competition in the field of AI programs involving students from universities in Lebanon and startups, which will serve as an incentive to develop digital transformation projects in Lebanon.

Canadian Ambassador

Diplomatically, President Aoun received Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon Gregory Galligan, and held with him a round of talks covering current conditions in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments, Lebanese-Canadian relations, and ways to develop them in various fields. The discussion also touched on the possibility of Canadian flights returning to Lebanon.

Dagher

At Baabda Palace, [he received] the President of the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs Fadi Philip Dagher with a family delegation including: Nasif Dagher, Asaad Dagher, and Walid Dagher. President Aoun congratulated Dagher on assuming the presidency of police chiefs in Canada, praising the responsibilities he undertook in Canada leading up to the new position, expressing Lebanon's pride in its sons scattered around the world and of Lebanese descent who "wherever they go, they carry Lebanon in their hearts and raise its name high."

Dagher indicated his attachment to Lebanon, expressing readiness to help from his new position in everything that can strengthen the work of Lebanese security forces.

Ghazawi

On another note, President Aoun received the Mufti of Zahle and Bekaa Dr. Ali Ghazawi with a family delegation, thanking him for his condolences to the President and First Lady Mrs. Neemat Aoun for the death of her father. Ghazawi praised the President's "courageous positions and determination to revive the country and put it on the right path."

For his part, President Aoun welcomed Mufti Ghazawi and the accompanying delegation, commending his "inclusive national positions and care in performing his spiritual and humanitarian mission with integrity and sincerity."

Sports Federations

Sportingly, President Aoun received a delegation from sports federations in Lebanon, speaking on behalf of whom was Hussein Muqalled, who said: "Your Excellency, you said in your oath speech 'No matter how we differ, in times of hardship we embrace each other, because if one of us breaks, we all break.' We meet today on this meaning: to work together and make sports a space for meeting and cooperation. We are heads of sports federations, gathered from all Lebanese governorates: from Beirut, Mount Lebanon, the North, Akkar, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, the South, and Nabatieh. We work together to organize our tournaments and competitions in the heart of the capital, under the umbrella of the Lebanese state, rallying around the Lebanese flag."

He added: "Fitness Power Expo relies on joint effort between more than twenty sports federations. Each federation has its role in organizing its tournaments and competitions, with its administrative, technical, and refereeing cadres, coaches, and players. Lebanese championships are held in several games, and athletes from the Universities Sports Federation participate in actual competitions."

He continued: "Despite the wounds and difficult circumstances Lebanon is going through, we choose to meet with the language of sports: the language of civilization, high sportsmanship, tolerance, and fair competition. It is an opportunity to showcase our athletes' talents and honor them before their families; they are the foundation and spirit of this event."

He said: "Fitness Power Expo is held at Forum de Beirut on November 7 and 8, 2026, gathering about four thousand athletes from all age groups, with international participations from more than fifteen countries in several tournaments. We are working to equip the venue with the latest technical and technological equipment, giant screens exceeding a total area of eight hundred square meters, and spectator stands, according to international standards. We look forward to your gracious patronage of this event, which we all present through our cooperation and effort, hoping it will be an opportunity for meeting and fair competition, and an image that gathers Lebanon's sports federations in the heart of the capital."

The participating delegation included representatives from the Lebanese Gymnastics Federation, the Lebanese Table Tennis Federation, the Lebanese Kyokushin Karate Federation, the Lebanese Boxing Federation, the Lebanese Kickboxing Federation, the Lebanese Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the Lebanese Wushu Kung Fu Federation, the Lebanese Badminton Federation, the Lebanese Heritage and Traditional Sports Federation, the Lebanese Combo Federation, the Lebanese Universities Federation, the Lebanese Taekwondo Federation, the Lebanese Muay Thai Federation, the Lebanese Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the Lebanese Shooting Federation, the Lebanese Strength and Physical Education Federation, the Lebanese Weightlifting Federation, the Lebanese Wrestling Federation, the Lebanese Calisthenics Committee, the Lebanese Grappling and Amateur MMA Committee, and the Lebanese CrossFit and Hyrox Committee.

President Aoun's Response

President Aoun responded by welcoming the delegation, stressing that "sports unite, and the primary goal remains that we work together for the service of Lebanon, for it alone protects everyone."

He said: "Sports have a prominent place in society, because it is capable of gathering our youth and protecting them from plagues known to most societies, such as drugs, which pose a danger greater than terrorism, because they may enter every home and dismantle entire families."

He added: "The new generation is a trust in your hands as sports federations. You must awaken consciousness in the consciences of our youth and love for fair competition to win championships as an added value to winning themselves, despite the difficult circumstances and limited financial capabilities, yet you achieve accomplishments thanks to your determination and strong will. This gives hope to the souls of Lebanese people. Keep Lebanon as your goal, and do not allow sectarianism, denominationalism, and partisan matters to divide you."

He addressed the delegation members saying: "Every cause without faith in it is not destined for success, and you succeed despite difficult circumstances. This shows the extent of the official's resilience in facing tough conditions. The captain of the ship does not leave it during storms, but stays at its helm amidst stormy times to bring it to safe haven."

He concluded: "Lebanon deserves to give the world an honorable image of itself, for this is its truth. Many of its sons achieve great accomplishments abroad. We support your efforts, and the event you are preparing will give a positive message to Lebanon and abroad to confirm confidence in our homeland, and you are the builders of this confidence. This is our collective responsibility towards our country, each within the sector they operate in."