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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that the main purpose of negotiations with Israel is to protect Lebanon from the effects of war while safeguarding its sovereignty, stability and national interests.
Aoun made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Bekaa Development Association, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency.
“I have defined the main objectives of the negotiations as keeping Lebanon away from the horrors of war and protecting its sovereignty, stability and national interests,” Aoun said.
He added that he remained open to all options that could help achieve those goals.
Aoun said Lebanon’s current challenges could be overcome through national unity and solidarity.
He praised recent remarks by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a leading figure in Lebanon’s Shiite political bloc, emphasizing the principles of civil peace, and described those principles as a “red line.”
Aoun said Lebanon had “many opportunities” ahead and warned against sacrificing them for narrow calculations, urging the country to draw lessons from the past while building a better future.
He also pledged to strengthen the state’s presence in the Bekaa Valley in line with the region’s needs and importance.
Aoun highlighted several projects, including the Beirut-Bekaa Tunnel, the Arab Highway and a Lebanese University campus, while stressing the importance of protecting the Litani River.
Lebanon and Israel have held seven rounds of direct negotiations since April 14, including five in Washington and two in Rome.
An eighth round is expected to take place in Italy in September.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued since March 2 despite a ceasefire.
According to Lebanese authorities, the attacks have killed more than 4,000 people, wounded over 12,000 and displaced more than 1 million.
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