A Series of Meetings in Baabda: Rome Negotiations Face the Test of Implementation, Army Ready to Deploy

President Joseph Aoun continued his series of meetings at Baabda Palace, where he stressed before a delegation from the Elders Foundation, a delegation from the University of Balamand, and former UN peace operations coordinator Sigrid Kaag the need for the anticipated negotiations in Rome to produce practical results reflected on the ground, through the start of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and enabling the Lebanese Army to deploy to the positions being vacated.

Aoun affirmed that the Lebanese Army continues to carry out its duties across all Lebanese territory despite the difficult economic conditions facing military personnel, stressing the importance of providing the necessary support to the military institution and equipping it in a way that enables it to fulfill its national duties.

On the regional front, the president said that the continuation of the war will not achieve security, calling on the Israeli prime minister to realize that stability is not imposed by force, but is achieved through negotiation and political solutions. He added that historical experience has proven that wars lead only to more killing, destruction, and displacement, and do not succeed in achieving lasting peace or ending the existence of non-state forces, calling on Israel to change its approach if it truly seeks the security of its people and the stability of the region.