Marqos: The Aoun Presidency Era Has Restored Lebanon's Presence

Confirmed Minister of Media Boulos Marqos that "the new era under the presidency of General Joseph Aoun has restored Lebanon's state presence," emphasizing that "there is no alternative for Lebanese people but to rally around the state and its institutions to reclaim sovereignty and achieve stability."

Minister Marqos addressed the "sixth anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion," affirming that "this tragedy will remain etched in the memory of Lebanese people, and truth and justice are now closer than ever before, following the removal of obstacles that had hindered judicial investigations in recent years," as stated by the Prime Minister during the latest government meeting.

"The indictment decision is expected within a few months at most, after the Public Prosecutor's Office completes its review of the file," he noted, adding that "President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati are directly overseeing this file, and the state is committed to uncovering the truth and delivering justice to victims and their families, without interfering in the judiciary, which remains independent within the framework of separation of powers."

In the media domain, Minister Marqos revealed that "the media law project is in its final stages before being approved by the Parliament, which holds the authority to approve it, as the minister’s role is limited to advancing the process and submitting media recommendations." He described it as "a qualitative leap of up to 90% in regulating the media sector," stating: "The new law aims to regulate traditional and digital media, establish an independent national media authority, combat hate speech and media misinformation, protect media freedom under clear professional standards, and regulate online platforms through a 'knowledge and information' system to ensure transparency and identify the legal owners and responsible parties."

He emphasized that "some objections to the law stem from personal interests, which may be legitimate, but the primary goal remains developing the media sector and enhancing its credibility domestically and internationally."

On the reform plan for official media institutions, the minister highlighted that "the Ministry of Media has succeeded in recent months in: appointing the first Board of Directors for Lebanon Television after 26 years, revitalizing and improving the TV's production quality under direct ministerial oversight, digitizing the Lebanon Television archive and nominating it for UNESCO's Memory of the World program, launching the National News Agency in its new format, and initiating a comprehensive reform workshop at Radio Lebanon."

He drew attention to "the ongoing struggle of legitimate Lebanese radio stations against signal interference," confirming that "the ministry is engaging with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to address this issue," noting that "Radio Lebanon itself suffers from interference, and efforts are underway to restore normal operations and safeguard legal frequencies."

Minister Marqos also spoke about his recent participation in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in New York, where Lebanon represented itself after years of absence from many international forums. He stressed that "Lebanon's presence on the international stage is essential to mobilize support and highlight the country's needs."

On the political front, the minister affirmed that "the Lebanese state is the sole reference point for all Lebanese people," calling on all political forces to "unite around state institutions and refrain from returning to bloc politics and divisions." He said: "Lebanon has experimented with every form of 'statelessness' over the past decades; it is time to exclusively rely on legitimate institutions."

He observed that "the goals of the Aoun presidency are clear: restoring sovereignty, liberating occupied territories, repatriating prisoners, enabling displaced residents to return to their villages, and achieving stability."

He also disclosed that the Ministry of Media is conducting awareness campaigns in collaboration with the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and UNIFIL, aimed at combating hate speech and promoting a culture of dialogue and mutual respect among Lebanese citizens.

He paid tribute to the President of the Republic, stating that "Lebanon has entered a new phase after years of vacuum," expressing hope that "Lebanese people will rally around the state to succeed in the reform journey."

He also called on Lebanese both inside the country and abroad to "strengthen solidarity and unity," saying: "The more Lebanese unite, the closer they come to achieving their aspirations. There is no alternative to the state—it alone can bring together the Lebanese people and build their future."