Aoun hopes Tuesday talks will lead to ceasefire, sustainable solution
President Joseph Aoun on Monday told visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that "Lebanon hopes that the upcoming meeting tomorrow in Washington between the ambassadors of Lebanon, the United States, and Israel will result in an agreement on a ceasefire in Lebanon, paving the way for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel."
"These negotiations, to be led by a Lebanese negotiating team, will aim to end hostilities and pave the way for practical steps to stabilize the south in particular and Lebanon in general," Aoun said.
"There is an opportunity now to reach a sustainable solution, which is what Lebanon desires. However, this cannot be achieved unilaterally. Israel must respond to Lebanese, Arab, and international calls to cease its aggression against Lebanon and begin negotiations, especially since Israel's successive wars against Lebanon have failed to achieve their objectives since 1982," the president added
He warned that Israel's destruction of Lebanese territory is "not the solution and will not yield any results, as diplomatic solutions have always been the best approach to resolving armed conflicts worldwide."
"Negotiations with Israel are the responsibility of the Lebanese state, not any other party, as this is a sovereign matter in which Lebanon has no partners," Aoun stressed.
He also pointed out that "Lebanon has implemented a series of security measures at the Rafik Hariri International Airport and its land and sea border crossings to prevent arms smuggling and the flow of illicit funds."
"The army and other security forces are strictly enforcing the law to prevent any violations that could undermine the country's security and financial stability," Aoun said.
Source: Naharnet
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