Foreign Minister: Our objective in negotiations is the complete Israeli withdrawal from all our territories
At Baabda Palace, President Joseph Aoun met with Jean Arnault, Acting Head of the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Imran Rizvi, UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator, and Humanitarian Coordinator, as well as Lina Al-Qadoura, Special Assistant to the Special Coordinator, to discuss the aid provided by the United Nations and the difficulties it faces. He also held talks with Minister Charles Hajj regarding the telecommunications sector. Hajj presented the latest developments concerning the implementation of Law No. 431 and the establishment of the company "Liban Telecom," assuring him that "the state is keen on protecting the rights of all employees, and that any reform process will be based on respect for the law, safeguarding acquired rights, and ensuring the continuity and development of public institutions." Aoun also discussed this matter with a delegation from the "Ogero" employees' union, reassuring them that "their rights are preserved following the establishment of Liban Telecom," and urged the union to approach the file positively.
In Paris, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji participated in a conference held at the French Senate under the title "In Solidarity with Lebanon: Local Authorities at the Heart of the French-Lebanese Partnership," at the invitation of Senate President Gérard Larcher. Larcher opened the event by emphasizing the organic link between Lebanon and the French Senate, reflecting on the successive crises Lebanon has endured so far and describing the Lebanese government's decision to reject the path of war and pursue negotiations as a brave and historic one.
Raji affirmed that Lebanon has chosen to rebuild a fully sovereign state, whose authority is unambiguous, a state that exclusively monopolizes the decision-making regarding its foreign policy and national security, and exercises solely the right to use legitimate force. In this context, he pointed to decisions described as historic taken by the government, foremost among them ending Hezbollah's military presence. He stressed that this decision created the political conditions that made the "Framework Agreement" possible.
He clarified that the objective of the negotiation phases is to gradually extend the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces over all Lebanese territories, including the south. He emphasized that no state can complete the construction of its institutions and sovereignty while part of its territory remains under occupation, affirming that his country's goal in the negotiations is the complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories.
He added, "The decision to end Hezbollah's military presence was not a response to external pressures nor the fruit of diplomatic negotiations, but rather an expression of pure national will and a firm conviction that the state cannot regain its full credibility and prestige as long as military organizations operate outside its constitutional authority."
Meanwhile, the second day of the National Assembly's legislative session yesterday witnessed a verbal altercation between MPs Sami Gemayel and Jihad Asaad following the approval of a law granting officers holding doctoral degrees permission to teach in schools and universities, through the Parliamentary Defense Committee. Among the proposals approved by the Assembly in a morning session was a bill aimed at increasing Lebanon's share in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
