Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron stressed on Friday that Lebanon’s sovereignty and freedom from foreign interference are critical to maintaining the ceasefire with Israel.
Following his meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Lebanon’s recovery and stability, emphasizing its commitment to bolstering the Lebanese Armed Forces in their deployment in southern Lebanon and strengthening UNIFIL’s mission.
Macron announced that Paris would host an aid conference to help rebuild Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah war, underscoring France’s solidarity with Lebanon’s new leadership.
He highlighted Lebanon’s progress toward political recovery, praising the end of the political vacuum and expressing France’s readiness to collaborate in demarcating Lebanon’s border with Israel.
Addressing Aoun, Macron said, “The Lebanese people elected you to embody their demand for change and revitalization.”
President Aoun thanked Macron for his consistent interest in Lebanon, noting, “The Lebanese people especially remember your visits after the Beirut port explosion and during the centenary of Greater Lebanon. We are grateful for your efforts, whether through your special envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, or the committee assisting with the presidential vacancy crisis.”
Aoun also highlighted the need for economic recovery, urging Macron to advocate for Total’s resumption of offshore oil exploration. “We hope for your support in ensuring Total resumes its operations in Lebanon’s offshore petroleum blocks. This is crucial for our country’s recovery,” he said.
Aoun emphasized the importance of consolidating the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, calling for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories and condemning violations in southern villages. “The continuation of Israeli violations in certain southern villages constitutes a flagrant breach of the ceasefire agreement,” he stated.
He also stressed the need to secure the release of Lebanese hostages and reconstruct areas damaged by recent aggressions, acknowledging the sacrifices of the French battalion in UNIFIL.
On broader regional issues, Aoun expressed hope that the Gaza agreement would lead to meaningful change, saying, “It must not be just another in a series of agreements blocked by Israeli violations. It is time to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and establish their state, in line with the resolutions of the 2002 Beirut Arab Summit.”
He also addressed the Syrian crisis, highlighting its impact on Lebanon. “We must ensure stricter border control to prevent illegal crossings and work toward the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland,” Aoun asserted.
Looking ahead, Aoun expressed aspirations to engage with European Union leaders after forming a new Lebanese government.
“The partnership between Lebanon and Europe must be activated across various domains to benefit both sides,” he said, emphasizing the importance of deepening ties with Europe for mutual benefit.
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