Lebanese President: Retention of International Forces in the South is the Optimal Means in the Coming Phase
Beirut, July 24 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed on Friday that the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south is the optimal means of preserving stability in the coming phase. Should this prove unfeasible due to actions by the UN Security Council, he stated that establishing an alternative force would be the solution.
The Office of Media at the Lebanese Presidency said in a statement that these remarks were made during President Aoun’s reception of Sandra van Walsum, the European Union’s ambassador to Lebanon, along with a delegation of ambassadors and chargés d’affaires from European and other foreign embassies, to discuss the general situation and avenues for European support for Lebanon.
Aoun stressed that Lebanon is committed to implementing the reforms it has approved, particularly economic ones, describing them as “a domestic necessity first and foremost, not to appease anyone.” He emphasized the importance of fiscal discipline and restoring confidence in the banking sector to curb the shadow economy, which he identified as the primary source of the informal economy.
The Lebanese president observed that Lebanon cannot return to a path of recovery without comprehensive economic, financial, and banking reforms. In this regard, he reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the “Framework Agreement,” brokered by the United States, particularly its security provisions and those concerning reconstruction exclusively through state institutions, as well as providing alternatives for the residents of the south.
President Aoun noted that his recent talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington were “productive,” during which they discussed the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation according to the “pilot areas” (experimental zones) formula, paving the way for the Lebanese state to extend its sovereignty over its entire territory.
On another note, he stressed prioritizing judicial reforms and adopting e-government measures to combat corruption, noting that “90 percent of the crises Lebanon has experienced stem from corruption, lack of accountability, and the accumulated consequences of decades of weak governance.”
He called on European countries to support the implementation of the “Framework Agreement” and prevent its obstruction by the Israeli occupation, thereby facilitating state-building and revitalizing financial and economic sectors.
For her part, Ambassador van Walsum said, according to the statement, that “Lebanon’s future depends on strengthening security, rebuilding robust institutions and a strong economy, as well as reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to provide support, concessional loans, and European guarantees for investment.” She praised the results of President Aoun’s visit to Washington.
These developments come within the framework of the operational understandings of the “Framework Agreement” signed between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation under US sponsorship to end military confrontations. The “Special Military Coordination Group for Lebanon” is tasked with direct coordination among the parties to ensure the gradual withdrawal of the occupation and the extension of Lebanese state sovereignty through the deployment of the Lebanese army in the southern areas. (End) F.Z. / A.M.S.
