Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun declared on Friday that “it was time to permanently end the war,” adding that keeping international peacekeeping forces in the country was the “best option for the coming phase.”
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) mission ends at the end of the year. European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, have expressed their support to keep their forces in the South after the mission ends through a “European force”.
The option was proposed should efforts to extend UNIFIL’s mission fail.
Speaking to a delegation of European ambassadors to Lebanon, Aoun on Friday said he backs the formation of an alternative force to UNIFIL that can help the Lebanese army sweep the southern regions of unexploded ordnance and follow up on the implementation of the US-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele praised Aoun’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House this week, noting it was the first by a Lebanese head of state in 17 years.
She described it as a historic moment that would hopefully pave the way for a new chapter in the country.
She stressed that Lebanon’s future hinges on bolstering security and stability, building strong institutions and a strong economy and carrying out necessary reforms.
Aoun said Lebanon is committed to the reforms, as well as the framework agreement with Israel.
He described his meeting with Trump as fruitful, revealing that they covered the agreement, Israel’s withdrawal from the South and the deployment of the Lebanese army.
He urged support from the EU states to prevent Israel from obstructing the agreement.
“It is time to end the war permanently, which will help achieve economic growth and attract local and foreign investments,” he added.
Also on Friday, Aoun briefed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on his visit to the US and the meetings he held with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said American officials were ready to support the Lebanese army and help Lebanon in all fields.
He said Washington was committed to implementing the framework agreement.
For his part, Salam briefed the president on his visit to the South, specifically to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after Israel’s withdrawal in line with the pilot zones agreement.
“We stand in solidarity with our people from the South and the state is determined to provide their needs to cement their presence on their lands,” he stressed.
