President Joseph Aoun warned Wednesday that “the trajectory of wars always differs from what both sides expect,” cautioning that “war can only end through negotiation and dialogue, whereas its continuation leads to further destruction, casualties and bloodshed.”
"The primary objective of negotiations is to achieve the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, secure the release of captives, ensure the return of displaced persons, rebuild, and deploy the army across all Lebanese territory. There is no disagreement in Lebanon regarding these goals; rather, the difference lies in the approach and method of achieving them,” the president said during a meeting in Baabda with a delegation from the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch John X Yazigi.
“When the South is wounded, the wound affects all of Lebanon, and the state is responsible for its citizens. However, the wars imposed on us have negatively impacted the return of state institutions to the South and hindered many achievements, despite significant qualitative progress made in various fields, particularly regarding economic, financial, administrative and judicial reforms,” Aoun added.
Separately, Aoun lamented that “some stoke sectarian and denominational tensions for personal interests at the expense of their nation, while others collaborate with external parties against their fellow Lebanese internally.”
“This is our problem in Lebanon, whereas we should be strengthening ourselves through one another domestically against any external entity," the president went on to say.