President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun to a delegation from the "Sovereignty Front":
Bilateral negotiations will be handled by Lebanon through a delegation headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and no one will join Lebanon in this mission or take its place.
The choice of negotiation aims to halt hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of areas in the south, and deploy the army up to the internationally recognized southern border.
During the call with him, President Trump showed full understanding of and responsiveness to Lebanon’s demand, and intervened with Israel to stop the gunfire and prepare for the launch of a negotiating track that would end the abnormal situation and restore the authority of the Lebanese state and its sovereignty over all its territory, foremost the south. Contacts between us will continue to preserve the ceasefire and begin negotiations, which should be accompanied by the broadest possible national support so that the negotiating team can achieve the goals it seeks.
The upcoming negotiations are separate from any other negotiations, because Lebanon is faced with two choices: either the continuation of the war, with all its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereign repercussions, or negotiation to put an end to this war and achieve lasting stability. I chose negotiation, and I am fully hopeful that we can save Lebanon.
