Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stressed the need to strengthen national unity in the face of the challenges confronting Lebanon, saying any political settlement must not come at the expense of the country and its national interests.
Aoun warned on Tuesday against “seeking support from abroad against one another at home in ways that serve Lebanon’s enemies.”
“Let us instead draw strength from one another in dealing with the outside world,” he said.
Aoun stressed that Lebanon cannot be built by a single group, sect, or political party, calling for efforts to overcome divisions and enhance dialogue and communication among Lebanese citizens as the gateway to building trust and ensuring stability.
He said Lebanon can recover whenever its people place the national interest above all other considerations, urging greater engagement between generations and a move away from grudges and divisions.
Salam Mobilizes Support in New York
In New York, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, stressing Lebanon’s priorities in discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, and US Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
During these meetings, Salam stressed the need for Israel to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory and cease its attacks, strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Army, and ensure a continued international presence in southern Lebanon following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate.
He also emphasized extending state authority across the country and ensuring that weapons remain solely under state control.
Salam sought support for Lebanon’s recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts, as well as for the continuation of government reforms and the expansion of cooperation and investment, particularly in energy, transportation, and regional connectivity.
Meeting with the UN Secretary-General
In his meeting with Guterres, Salam stressed the importance of maintaining a UN-backed international presence in southern Lebanon after the conclusion of UNIFIL’s mission, arguing that such a presence would support stability and help extend state authority.
He also discussed the humanitarian situation, noting that approximately 329,000 people remain displaced, and highlighted the need to shift from emergency response measures toward supporting returns, recovery efforts, and the restoration of essential services.
Regional Consultations
With King Abdullah II of Jordan, discussions focused on supporting Lebanon and its institutions, particularly the Lebanese Army, continuing coordination to reduce tensions, and mobilizing international support for arrangements that would prevent a security vacuum in the south.
In talks with Erdogan, Salam discussed strengthening Lebanese-Turkish relations and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure, in addition to electricity and railway connectivity projects and support for recovery and reconstruction in southern Lebanon.
Salam to the Lebanese Diaspora: Difficult Decisions and Reforms
Addressing members of the Lebanese community in New York, Salam said that despite the difficult circumstances, the government had not abandoned its course. Instead, it had taken “difficult decisions” and launched a serious reform agenda aimed at changing the country's trajectory and building a state in which Lebanese citizens can regain confidence.
On the issue of weapons, Salam stressed that the government remains committed to implementing its decisions so that the state alone exercises authority across Lebanon, holds exclusive control over decisions of war and peace, and entrusts responsibility for citizens’ security to the Lebanese Army and legitimate security institutions.
He linked these efforts to achieving an Israeli withdrawal, securing the return of residents to southern Lebanon, and launching a broader recovery and reconstruction process, emphasizing that stability is an essential prerequisite for economic revival and investment.
