Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to diplomatic and negotiated solutions to disputes, saying that negotiations with Israel have yet to yield the desired progress. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned of the dangers of ending the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon before UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and Israeli occupation ends completely.
The two leaders made their remarks during separate meetings with German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan, who also met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut.
The meetings focused on developments in Lebanon and the wider region, ways to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and Germany, and European support for Lebanese institutions.
Aoun: Diplomacy, not military force, key to stability
Aoun said Lebanon remained committed to diplomacy and negotiations to resolve conflicts, arguing that wars had failed to achieve their intended goals and that military force alone could not secure lasting stability.
He called for an end to Israeli attacks and compliance with existing agreements, warning that continued military operations and strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure were deepening suffering and undermining efforts to restore stability.
Residents of southern Lebanon, he said, needed security and reassurance to return to their normal lives.
Aoun: No breakthrough in talks with Israel
Aoun said Lebanon had put four key issues on the negotiating table: a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, border demarcation and prisoners. But the progress Beirut sought had yet to materialize, he said.
Aoun stressed that the Lebanese state and army were ready to address security concerns through official channels and established coordination mechanisms rather than military action.
He urged Europe to step up support for the Lebanese army, citing its role in maintaining stability, fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, securing borders and combating irregular migration.
Backing Lebanon's military and security institutions, he said, was a direct investment in regional stability that would also bolster European security, given the close ties across the Mediterranean.
On economic reforms, Aoun said Lebanon was pressing ahead with the International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions to complete reforms and rebuild confidence in its economy.
He also voiced hope that Germany would help finance reconstruction, particularly through any framework developed under World Bank leadership in coordination with the Lebanese government.
Aoun called for a gradual shift from emergency aid toward a lasting economic and development partnership.
Berri warns against UNIFIL withdrawal before full implementation of Resolution 1701
Berri, meeting Alabali-Radovan alongside German Ambassador Thomas Seidel, raised concerns over continued Israeli attacks and the destruction of villages and towns in southern Lebanon.
He accused Israel of disregarding international resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as agreements reached in 2024 and the latest framework agreement, both brokered by the United States.
With the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set to expire at the end of the year, Berri warned against ending its mission before Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and Israeli occupation ends completely.
He also called for stronger ties between Lebanon, Germany and the European Union, alongside continued support for the Lebanese army.
Salam seeks support for southern Lebanon's recovery
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam thanked Germany for its continued support, stressing the need to help southern Lebanon recover and rebuild.
He also called for assistance to enable displaced residents to return to their villages and strengthen the Lebanese state's capabilities.
Germany backs reforms, warns against security vacuum in south
Alabali-Radovan reaffirmed Germany's support for Lebanon's reform efforts, stronger state institutions and better living conditions, particularly for those hardest hit by the country's crisis.
Speaking after meeting Aoun at the presidential palace, she said Berlin was seeing progress in the Lebanese government's reforms and would continue supporting its institutions.
German cooperation, she said, would focus on better governance and transparency, economic growth, vocational training and rebuilding infrastructure in affected areas.
On UNIFIL's future, she said Germany was closely monitoring developments and warned against leaving a vacuum.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, and of course there must be no vacuum in this regard," she said.
Alabali-Radovan also pledged continued German backing for the Lebanese army, calling it a cornerstone of national stability.
"Germany wants to support the Lebanese army because it is indeed a fundamental pillar of the country's stability, and we will do so now and in the future," she said.
