President Michel Aoun expressed his hope that the new parliamentary council emerging from the upcoming elections would meet "the hopes of the Lebanese people," and that the new MPs would fulfill their duties in monitoring government work, legislating necessary laws to ensure Lebanon is on the path to financial and economic recovery, and electing a new president who will continue the roadmap designed to resolve the difficult situation we all are experiencing. He noted that "the council has the responsibility to accompany the transfer of Lebanon to another phase by passing many legislations that help lay down solid foundations for a productive and sustainable economy, and a financial strategy that preserves the rights and money of the Lebanese, and most importantly, holds accountable everyone who has committed financial crimes and led the country and the people to this crisis."
The President's remarks came during an exclusive interview with the Qatari News Agency "QNA," where he expressed regret over "the lack of adequate representation for Lebanese expatriates in the parliamentary council," hoping that this would change in the next elections. He also expressed pleasure that "Lebanon was able to pass an electoral law in 2018 that took into account the need for proportional representation, even if it does not fully meet aspirations, but is much better than the old law that Lebanese voted under for decades, with all its flaws and lack of representation for all segments of Lebanese society."
He emphasized that "the Lebanese security and military forces have devised a meticulous plan to ensure the security of the parliamentary elections taking place tomorrow, Sunday, in order to prevent any significant incidents that could lead to the postponement or cancellation of the voting process."
He clarified that "the parliamentary elections for Lebanese expatriates held last Friday and Sunday revealed two important things: first, the collapse of the allegations and false accusations against us of working to disrupt or hinder the parliamentary elections, knowing that I personally have been keen, since taking office, to alleviate all difficulties in the face of electoral processes and was the most insistent on adhering to their constitutional deadlines. The second was the enthusiasm of Lebanese expatriates to participate in this constitutional entitlement, and their desire to make their voices heard that they have not forgotten their country and wish to contribute to its revival and recovery."
He extended greetings to "everyone who contributed to achieving the first phase of the elections, despite all the difficulties and unprecedented circumstances imposed, indicating that this is a sign that the second phase, in which residents will vote, will also be successful, leading to the emergence of a new parliamentary council that we hope will meet the aspirations and ambitions of the Lebanese wherever they are."
Regarding the economic crisis, he stated: "The magnitude of the crisis Lebanon is experiencing on both financial and economic levels is not hidden," asserting his belief that "the agreement with the International Monetary Fund is the beginning of the path toward recovery and getting out of this crisis."
He noted that "long-term accumulations led Lebanon to its current situation, in addition to reliance on a rentier economy instead of a productive one, and the failure to establish sufficient laws to activate oversight and curb waste and corruption, all of which are factors that have compounded the burden on the Lebanese people."
He added: "Resolving the crisis today requires a comprehensive reform program and achieving economic and financial stability by establishing effective policies and reforms to revive the economy, rebuild trust, secure broad support from all parties, and a clear acknowledgment of the losses incurred within the financial system, along with agreeing on ways to address them."
He revealed that "the goal of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund is not merely to secure three billion dollars, or any other amount, but rather to establish a valid roadmap for a sound future economic and financial vision that ensures stability at both levels and allows the Lebanese to recover and be assured of a promising future." He stated: "The Lebanese government has put forth a plan dubbed the economic recovery plan, which outlines everything that must be done to overcome the current situation, through measures that may be harsh but are necessary, and we must not forget that the problem is the result of decades-long accumulations."
Regarding the possibility of Lebanon emerging from the crisis after the World Bank classified it as one of the worst crises since the 19th century, he said: "The issue is not whether Lebanon can stand on its feet again, but the time it will take." He added: "Lebanon has faced highly complicated issues threatening its entity, identity, and existence throughout its history, and this is something that the Lebanese have become increasingly aware of — that entering confrontations that could lead to a situation detrimental to all is pointless." He expressed his belief in "the Lebanese people's ability to overcome all difficulties, regardless of their magnitude and severity, but the factor of time does not work in our favor. We have worked and encouraged conducting parliamentary elections on time as one of the required democratic means to allow the people to express their vision and demands in the coming years."
In response to a question about the obstacles he faced in implementing reforms, the President said: "There is a saying: one hand does not clap. Unfortunately, I encountered many obstacles from some beneficiaries who wanted to keep the situation as it is in Lebanon, far from any accountability or reform. What should have been accomplished swiftly has taken years, such as the issue of forensic auditing that was approved and then suspended before I worked again to activate it. The aim of this auditing is not directed at one specific institution, but it starts from the Central Bank of Lebanon and extends to all institutions and public administrations, as we must not overlook the fact that money has been smuggled out of Lebanon during difficult times for the Lebanese, and it is necessary to identify who was responsible for this and who facilitated and participated in this conspiracy against the people."
He added: "Yes, there are individuals who are guilty but receive protection from influential figures in Lebanese life, yet I have not surrendered and will not despair, and I will continue to work toward achieving the goals in this context even after my presidential term ends because I believe that the reforms I advocate do not serve one group of Lebanese at the expense of another, and they are the proper path to recovery and overcoming the hardships we live through. These reforms can also restore trust between the citizen and the state after it has been lost over recent decades."
"I will work during the remainder of my presidential term to achieve what I have called for, and if time does not allow for that, at least I will have left a roadmap that my successor can follow to guide Lebanon from one state to another," he emphasized.
He stressed that "the Lebanese do not know despair, and they are not inclined to know it at this time. Therefore, they have control over their decisions, and I am confident that they will work to overcome the current crisis, but suitable conditions must be provided for that, which is what we are trying to do."
**Security Situation**
The President noted that "it has not been easy to maintain security stability in Lebanon in a region that has been engulfed in conflicts, especially amid the brutal war in Syria since 2011. Regardless of the significant differences in opinion among the Lebanese, they all agreed that security is the fundamental common denominator for the country's survival and preservation of its identity; otherwise, they would all lose and face an uncertain fate."
"Therefore, we worked to strengthen this bond among the Lebanese first and facilitated unity around the Lebanese army and security forces, which have fulfilled their role and earned the trust of both Arab and Western countries alike, receiving logistical support from around the world after it became clear to everyone that Lebanon is vigorously engaged in combating terrorism and neutralizing all plans put forth by terrorists, who have failed to impose their vision and ideas."
He believed that "the diversity of Lebanese society was a fundamental factor in fostering unity among the Lebanese and their standing together against the terrorists who sought to harm civilizations and sow discord between religions and sects, and their failure in Lebanon was resounding."
The President affirmed "Lebanon's success and its constant efforts to maintain security stability," while indicating at the same time that "concerns about terrorist operations remain valid at all times, which is a threat to all countries worldwide, as we have unfortunately seen. It is the duty of the security forces and the military to take all necessary measures to control dormant terrorist cells through preemptive operations and information-sharing with intelligence agencies from friendly and sisterly countries."
He revealed that during his presidential term, "the Supreme Defense Council held numerous meetings addressing security issues and enhancing coordination operations between various Lebanese security agencies and with countries of the world to ensure security stability, despite all the harsh circumstances faced by the region and the world."
**Syrian Displacement**
The President reiterated his position on "the need to return Syrian displaced persons to their homes given Lebanon's inability to bear the economic repercussions of this displacement." He said: "I announced my position on the first day of the war in Syria, stating that we must receive displaced persons who are injured or genuinely need to flee Syria to preserve their lives, while others cannot be accommodated by Lebanon, which is the smallest country in area among its neighbors." He added: "My appeals did not receive the necessary response, resulting in hundreds of thousands of Syrian displaced persons flowing into Lebanon, leading to the highest density of 600 people per square kilometer."
He pointed out that "this influx of displaced persons has had catastrophic consequences on Lebanon across all fronts: living, security, and economic, as the crime rate increased, Lebanon incurred huge financial costs to meet the needs of the displaced, and unemployment rose, worsening the economic crisis amid competition between the displaced and Lebanese people."
He disclosed that "external countries did not accept their departure to their homeland and pressured them to stay, which is unusual and raises suspicion and unease," announcing that "Lebanon is about to take effective and intensive international action to raise this issue, and we will not accept threats to Lebanon's fate to please anyone; we will have a unified Lebanese stance to present to the world in various regional and international forums in the coming period."
**Israeli Ambitions**
The President warned of Israeli ambitions regarding Lebanese resources, including oil, gas, and water, while dismissing the likelihood of "the Israeli entity launching an aggression against Lebanon." He expressed his belief that "the enemy will not seek such an adventure right now because the cost will be very high, and Lebanon will stand united against the aggressor with all its components and resistance." He stated: "The Israeli entity has come to realize that in measuring profit and loss, it will suffer significant losses if it attacks Lebanon, noting that Lebanon is committed to international resolutions, especially Resolution 1701, while Israel consistently violates this resolution."
He affirmed that "recent years have proven that stability on the borders is a demand of all, and Lebanon has never been an attacker but rather a defender."
Regarding the possibility of reaching a framework agreement with Israel concerning the maritime border demarcation following the progress in U.S. mediation on this issue, he considered that "in the concept of negotiations, it is essential to reach a solution satisfactory to both parties; otherwise, things will be destined for failure."
He revealed that "Lebanon has started and continues not to relinquish its rights to oil and gas and to normalize relations with Israel, even through sharing oil and gas fields. It is open to offers that align with this framework and evaluates all proposals while also presenting suggestions that it believes could form a starting ground."
He stated: "Thanks to U.S. mediation, negotiations remain ongoing indirectly, although they have practically stalled due to the time needed to review options and proposals. However, this does not mean that the negotiations have concluded or that the file has been closed. Any preliminary or final agreement cannot be approved by Lebanon without the endorsement of the relevant authorities, including the President, the Council of Ministers, and the Parliament."
**Defensive Strategy**
In response to a question about implementing a "unified defensive strategy that focuses on restricting arms to the Lebanese army, against the backdrop of external criticisms regarding the presence of weapons in the hands of Lebanese parties," the President said: "Addressing a matter of this magnitude requires comprehensive agreement from all Lebanese parties because the implications of the issue affect everyone without exception, and the matter of a defensive strategy cannot be adopted and implemented by one party alone." He added: "I previously proposed my pragmatic vision to the Lebanese parties to reach a suitable ground for discussion regarding arms and how to face Israeli threats and ambitions, especially considering the Israeli superiority in weapons balance."
In this context, he clarified that "there are currently circumstances and developments that have emerged globally and regionally, which cannot be overlooked when discussing a defensive strategy. Hence, I called for a comprehensive national meeting to discuss this matter, but after addressing the most pressing and critical issues concerning the economic and financial situation. While some responded to this call, others chose to turn a deaf ear."
**Relations with Arab Countries**
While the President warned of the dangers of Arab-Arab disagreements and their negative impacts on all countries and peoples in the Arab world, he expressed "Lebanon's commitment to solidarity and unity among Arab countries," affirming "Lebanon's desire to establish the best relationships with Arab countries in general and Gulf countries in particular." He stated: "Lebanon is an Arab country, indeed, it is part of the Arab nation, and it is a fundamental pillar in the persistent call for unity and solidarity among Arab countries, as it believes that this serves the best interest of all these countries. We have all witnessed the impact of the Arab division and conflicts and their negative repercussions on every other country and its people."
He added: "Lebanon aspires to the best relations with Arab countries in general and Gulf countries in particular, and no dark cloud that may obscure these relationships will persist or continue because their natural fate is to dissipate. Lebanon does not find itself far from its Arab surrounding, nor can the Arabs afford to abandon Lebanon."
He emphasized that "Lebanon breathes through the Arab lung, relying on Arab countries to be its economic pathway to the world, especially in light of the presence of the enemy Israeli on its southern borders, in addition to the nature of interaction between the Lebanese people and those of other Arab countries, making it essential to strengthen relations between them for Lebanon's political and economic stability, despite good relations with other countries of the world that share mutual respect and common interest."
He appreciated "Qatar's continuous support for Lebanon during the difficult phases it has gone through," indicating that "this relationship has been strengthened at the leadership level in both countries and among the brotherly peoples over time."
He noted the "depth of Qatari-Lebanese relations," pointing out that "the relationship between Lebanon and Qatar is not something new; rather it is old and reflects the bonds of brotherhood that unite the two countries and peoples." He affirmed "the desire of both Lebanese and Qatari sides to continue and develop this relationship given the mutual willingness to preserve and safeguard it."
**War in Ukraine**
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the President stated: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this war, which is a principled Lebanese position reflecting Lebanon's commitment to the foundations of dialogue and understanding far removed from weapons, having suffered from catastrophic humanitarian and economic consequences due to the recourse to arms to resolve issues."
He explained that "Lebanon's position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis is grounded in the necessity of adopting a language of dialogue to resolve problems between countries and peoples. Therefore, we see that the principles of the Charter of Human Rights and the principles of the United Nations are based on dialogue and not on violence and the sound of cannons."
He confirmed that "Lebanon maintains friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine, and thus is pained to witness the outbreak of war between them, having communicated this position to both countries, which showed understanding of his perspective," emphasizing that "Lebanon harbors no malice toward Russia or Ukraine, but under the language of cannons, every position issued by any party seems to be against one of the two countries."
He stressed that "Lebanon supports anything that would immediately end the ongoing war due to the human and material losses it incurs, which are escalating to the point of affecting the entire world, especially with discussions of the possibility of a nuclear war, and the rising prices of foodstuffs and energy sources."
The President reiterated that "Lebanon does not wish to jeopardizeits relationships with anyone, but believes that there is no alternative to agreements. He encourages the continuation of the ongoing negotiations between the two countries as they are the only path that will lead to the desired results. War will only delay this solution and bring sorrow and loss to everyone."
