Khaberni - The President of the Lebanese Republic, General Joseph Aoun, considered that "treachery is committed by those who take their country to war to achieve foreign interests," confirming that what the state is doing "is not treachery," but an effort to end the state of war.
Aoun said in statements reported by the National News Agency on Monday, that Lebanon informed the American side, that "a ceasefire is a necessary first step for any subsequent negotiations," noting that this position was repeated in two meetings held at the ambassadors' level on April 14 and 23.
He added that this approach was stated "clearly" in the statement of the American Foreign Ministry after the first session, especially in the third paragraph, which stipulated that "Israel will not conduct any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets in Lebanese territory by land, sea, or air."
Aoun stressed that "this is the official position of the Lebanese state, whether in Lebanon or in Washington, and we are not concerned with any other talk and there is no official Lebanese coverage for it."
In response to critics of the negotiation option, he said: "Some hold us accountable for deciding to go to negotiations on the grounds that there is no national consensus, and I ask: When you went to war, did you first enjoy national consensus?"
He mentioned that the accusations and "treachery" began before the negotiations started, adding: "It is claimed that we are going to negotiations in surrender, and we tell those: wait for the negotiations to begin and judge the outcome."
Aoun asked: "How long will the children of the south continue to pay the price for other's wars on our land, including the Gaza Support War and the Iran Support War?," confirming that "if the war were for Lebanon, we would have supported it, but when its goal is to achieve the interests of others, I completely reject it."
He affirmed that his duty is "to bear the responsibility of the decision and to lead the country on the path of salvation within the principles," pointing out that his goal is "to end the state of war with Israel similar to the truce agreement," wondering: "Was the truce agreement humiliating?"
