Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that Lebanon chose the path of negotiations because it is a sovereign state, stressing that the decision serves Lebanon's interests and was not made to appease any external party.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanon Youth Movement, Aoun said, "Loyalty must be to our country," warning that anyone who relies on external powers against others at home will ultimately lose, as outside powers will sooner or later abandon them.
Aoun said none of the wars Lebanon has experienced had produced a winner, stressing that everyone lost, as did the country itself.
He said his call to "end the state of hostility with Israel" means ending the wars that have devastated Lebanon and claimed innocent lives, emphasizing that the country can no longer endure them.
"Any other interpretation is wrong and suspicious," he said.
On domestic affairs, Aoun reaffirmed that he would not back down from the reforms outlined in his inaugural address, explaining that delays in implementing them were caused by the war that targeted Lebanon.
He stressed that efforts to carry out the reforms would continue, describing them as a reflection of the "new Lebanon."
Aoun also said Lebanon is waging a battle against corruption, stressing that combating it requires the judiciary, digital government, and cooperation between Lebanese citizens and the state.
