Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said that stability in Lebanon will continue despite regional events.
“The Lebanese leaders have agreed to dissociate Lebanon from what is happening in its vicinity. The international community is called upon to support the Lebanese will in this direction,” he stated.
Aoun added the post-election phase would witness the formation of a national unity government that would implement reforms, combat corruption, and realize an economic plan that achieves progress.
“The international community is called forth to support the Lebanese will to dissociate Lebanon from surrounding developments,” the president told the head of the French Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and North Africa department, Jerome Bonnafont.
Aoun reiterated that Lebanon, “which is committed to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to maintain stability in the south and not to have military action on the border, faces daily Israeli violations to its sovereignty.”
He stressed “Israel’s failure to respect the will of the international community to maintain stability on the borders with Lebanon.”
Aoun called on France to play an active role to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas in Syria, pointing to the repercussions that Lebanon has suffered as a result of the ongoing displacement since 2011 at the economic, security, social and humanitarian levels.
He told Bonnafont that Lebanon was shocked at the statement issued by the European Union and the United Nations after the recent Brussels meeting, stressing that it contradicted the principles of Lebanese sovereignty and the Lebanese position calling for a safe return of the displaced under the supervision of the international community.
