Khaberni- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has confirmed that Lebanon has high hopes for the upcoming meeting in Washington between representatives of Lebanon, the United States, and Israel to cease fire, paving the way for the start of direct negotiations between the parties.
Aoun explained, during his reception of the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the Baabda Palace, that the Lebanese state "is doing everything in its power to stop the war and end the shedding of blood," amidst ongoing escalations.
He pointed out that the negotiations with Israel "are exclusively handled by the Lebanese state," describing it as a "sovereign matter with no partner for Lebanon in it," and noted that the goal is to reach an understanding that will end hostile activities and establish long-term stability, especially in the south of the country.
Aoun emphasized that "there is an available opportunity to reach a sustainable solution," but he considered that this "cannot be done unilaterally," calling on Israel to respond to the calls for halting the war and starting the negotiation process.
He added that "the successive Israeli wars against Lebanon have not achieved their goals," confirming that "destroying Lebanese areas and targeting institutions and homes is not a solution and will not lead to results," and emphasizing that diplomatic solutions remain the optimal choice for conflicts.
He also noted that the continued Israeli bombardment and destruction of homes and burning of agricultural properties in the south hinder the return of the displaced and complicate humanitarian situations, at a time when the Lebanese government is working to address the repercussions with support from friendly countries.
For his part, the Italian minister expressed his country's support for Lebanon, emphasizing the importance that the Washington meetings lead to a ceasefire, and announcing Rome's readiness to host any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel aimed at reaching an agreement that ensures stability.
