A Series of Meetings for President Aoun... Washington Visit on the Table

President Joseph Aoun received Prime Minister Najib Mikati at Baabda Palace this afternoon, discussing general conditions and particularly those in the south, amid continued Israeli attacks and destruction of homes and properties in several villages and towns. The discussion also covered the upcoming visit of General Joseph Clifield, head of the Lebanon-specific Military Coordination Group MCG4L. The two leaders reviewed topics on the agenda for the afternoon cabinet session at the Presidential Palace.

Salamah

Meanwhile, Baabda Palace hosted a series of ministerial, political, and diplomatic meetings. President Aoun met with Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salamah, who stated after the meeting: "I was honored to meet with His Excellency the President of the Republic and briefed him on the major campaign we waged to include the five castles of Mount Lebanon on UNESCO's World Heritage List during last week's committee meeting in Korea. It was a significant battle, and Lebanon had to convince committee members representing 21 countries of its right to inclusion, and we succeeded in securing their unanimous support for this crucial decision regarding these fundamental landmarks of Lebanese history."

He added: "We also discussed the upcoming visit of UNESCO's Director-General to Beirut and his tour of key sites we are committed to protecting or restoring, along with broader national issues. On another note, I informed His Excellency about the near completion of the Grand Opera House in Dbayeh, and the possibility of Lebanon receiving it from the Chinese party that provided a donation exceeding eighty million dollars for its construction. We discussed the best ways to transfer this project from the Chinese contractor to Lebanon, and His Excellency assured me he will personally inaugurate it, God willing, during the upcoming autumn season."

He declared: "The campaign for the Mount Lebanon castles was against Israel, which was not a committee member, but there were countries representing their stance. We had to convince them to vote with us or abstain, and ultimately succeeded in achieving consensus."

He concluded: "As for other heritage sites, we have doubled the number of archaeological sites under enhanced protection following a decision we adopted at UNESCO in early April. This places these sites under global scrutiny, especially by countries that voted in favor of enhanced protection. Of course, we do not have armies, nor does UNESCO have armies to go defend these sites, but through our placement of specific protective markers, we also remove the excuse that military personnel, pilots, or attackers don’t know what they are targeting, because clear signs on-site and on these monuments indicate they are under enhanced protection."

War

President Aoun also received former Minister Pierre Gemayel, who clarified that "the meeting with President Aoun was an opportunity to discuss current security and political developments, particularly regarding ongoing negotiations with Israel and their circumstances and challenges." He noted it was also "a chance to congratulate President Aoun on his clear and firm stance during his meeting with the U.S. President and the results of that meeting, aimed at accelerating the liberation of the south, halting military operations, ensuring Israel’s full withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, and working to restore aid for rebuilding the south and enabling its inhabitants to return."

He said: "I presented to His Excellency the challenges Lebanon has faced in negotiations with Israel and the efforts being made through the negotiating team to overcome obstacles and push the United States to pressure Israel into accelerating talks and achieving desired outcomes to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty over its entire territory. At the same time, we reviewed the outcomes of legislative sessions and the disputes between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, requesting President Aoun’s intervention to resolve this conflict and preserve government unity at a time requiring cohesion to avoid any dysfunction."

Hawwab

Meanwhile, developments in the south and Lebanese-Israeli negotiations were also central topics in discussions between President Aoun and former Minister Wiam Hawwab, head of the Arab Unity Party. After the meeting, Hawwab stated: "I sensed His Excellency’s strong focus on achieving a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal to internationally recognized southern borders, deployment of the Lebanese Army, and the return and reconstruction of displaced persons to their villages."

Al-Ashqar

President Aoun also received a delegation from the Lebanese Hotel Owners’ Union, led by President Pierre al-Ashqar, who began the meeting by stating: "The election of President Aoun and his inaugural speech laid out a roadmap for the tourism sector and all sectors, especially given the President’s emphasis on building a state under one army, an honest judiciary, administrative reform, and combating corruption—giving us great hope for this country."

He stressed that "regardless of the outcome of negotiations, it is better than war, death, and destruction," expressing hope that "Lebanon under President Aoun’s leadership can reach safe shores." While rejecting criticism directed at the Presidency, he affirmed: "Resistance was convinced, and managed to convince us it was a deterrent force, but in reality, that force collapsed, compelling you to make the bold decision to negotiate."

He outlined the union’s demands and urged President Aoun to intervene to launch a workshop for developing tourism laws in Lebanon, noting that "the United Arab Emirates is the only country capable of assisting due to its experience and success in this field," calling for "regulating this sector through law, particularly concerning Airbnb."

Al-Ashqar addressed the hotel sector’s condition, describing it as "catastrophic" due to the war, which has deterred many expatriates from visiting Lebanon, adding that "this year is among the worst in decades for the hotel sector in Lebanon."

He spoke of President Aoun’s visit to America, saying it "gave expatriates a sense of hope and the feeling that Lebanon has returned to the international and regional map." However, he noted the challenge of attracting tourists due to high airfare prices, and also mentioned rising electricity bills and high costs for the sector. He said: "All these issues require real solutions and clear vision from the government and ministers if we are to achieve our desired outcome."

He ended by reaffirming "the hotel sector’s determination to endure despite current hardships," urging for "sustainable tourism development and revitalizing this sector so Lebanon can reclaim its former role, where tourism once contributed 20% of national income."

Aoun

President Aoun welcomed the delegation, acknowledging "the efforts of the Lebanese Hotel Owners’ Union and their proven ability to overcome difficulties since 2019, allowing the sector to continue operating and evolving." He highlighted "the growth achieved last year, which would have seen further increase had it not been for the outbreak of war, which set us back, though the situation is now gradually recovering."

He said: "Of course, we do not wish to stand idle before these challenges. Forty years of corruption and mismanagement cannot be reversed overnight, but we are taking measures that can help improve conditions—not just in the tourism sector, but across all sectors."

He added: "Our visit to Washington and the resumption of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States have also boosted global confidence in Lebanon. We are working to host an economic conference in Washington to encourage companies to invest in electricity, communications, public works, and infrastructure—sectors vital to Lebanon’s economic revival. But above all remains achieving economic stability, which in turn requires political and security stability."

President Aoun addressed the security situation, affirming it is "very good, especially considering Lebanon’s crime rate ranks among the lowest globally." He noted "a package of reforms we are implementing despite the war in the south, which negatively affects progress," pointing out that "once this war ends, Lebanon will breathe easier and resume a different trajectory." He emphasized "the necessity of strengthening Lebanon’s resilience amid ongoing regional developments."

Mufti of Baalbek-Hermel

President Aoun also received Sheikh Bakr al-Rafai, Mufti of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, who said after the meeting that he discussed with President Aoun his recent visit to the United States, "which re-established Lebanon on the world map and confirmed the presidency’s pivotal role in restoring Lebanon’s natural role as an independent state with relations with influential global nations."

He considered the Washington visit "inseparable from the reception given to Pope Francis XIV in Lebanon, signaling Lebanon’s recovery and its return to a healthy path." He added: "Our President, a symbol of national unity and institutions, must be supported and understood in light of regional circumstances, knowing that Lebanon’s negotiations require time and cannot conclude overnight."

He said: "Our region wants to contribute to building the state through its existing talents and expertise. The military institution, when unified, began in the Bekaa Valley. When the late President Elias Hrawi was elected, ending the war, it was in the Bekaa. And God willing, the region will receive its due rights under President Aoun’s leadership, whose final days of military service were also spent in the Bekaa."

Qaranouh

Diplomatically, President Aoun received Ali Qaranouh, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who briefed him on ongoing efforts to strengthen Lebanese-Saudi relations and ways to enhance cooperation across all fields, as well as the status of the Lebanese community in the Kingdom and the activities conducted by the embassy.

President Aoun also received Caroline Chedid, Permanent Representative and Head of Lebanon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, who briefed the President on the mission’s work within international organizations, particularly regarding human rights and preparations for the upcoming summit in Amman in December, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and supervised by several Arab and foreign heads of state under the international initiative to renew commitment to international humanitarian law.

Clarification from the Press Office

Meanwhile, the Press Office of the Presidency clarified that claims reported in some media outlets about the content of President Aoun’s recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington are inaccurate.