President of the National Dialogue Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi visited His Excellency President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, where they discussed the overall situation in Lebanon and the region.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi stated:
“I would like to begin by reaffirming my full support for President General Joseph Aoun and the course he is leading to protect Lebanon, restore the state’s full role, and guide the country toward a just and lasting peace that safeguards its sovereignty and the interests of its people.
Any serious approach to rescuing Lebanon requires courage in decision-making and wisdom in managing sensitive national issues, foremost among them stability, security, and sovereignty. From this standpoint, we support the option of direct negotiations with Israel in a manner that safeguards Lebanon’s supreme national interests, ensures stability in the South, and reasserts the rights and full sovereignty of the Lebanese state. This must be done away from slogans and political posturing that have brought us to our current situation, and in a way that paves the way for genuine and lasting peace.
We also reaffirm our full support for the government and its decisions in every sovereign step that restores the confidence of the Lebanese people and the international community in the Lebanese state and its institutions. In this context, we call on the government to move forward with dismantling the parallel and illicit economy, shutting down institutions such as Al-Qard Al-Hassan, and preventing smuggling and illegal trade across all border crossings, seaports, and the airport. We also call for restructuring the banking sector and financial system to prevent the future financing and arming of militias by cutting off their illicit sources of funding.
We also believe that the implementation of the 1955 Boycott Law should be suspended, as its continued use as an instrument of intimidation and coercion obstructs the confidence-building measures needed to achieve genuine and lasting peace. It also prevents Lebanon from advancing toward realistic solutions that safeguard its supreme national interests.
I emphasize the urgent need to implement the decision to make Beirut a safe, weapons-free city under the exclusive authority of the state. The delay in commencing implementation is no longer justifiable and is eroding the Lebanese people’s confidence in the state’s ability to enforce its decisions. The capital has always been, and will remain, a symbol of life, openness, and freedom. It can only reclaim its role and restore the sense of security of its residents through legitimate security measures and by firmly establishing one clear principle: no authority stands above that of the Lebanese state.
Making Beirut free of weapons must be a sovereign Lebanese decision, fully implemented by the Lebanese state. The capital can only recover its natural role and political, economic, and cultural significance under the exclusive authority of the state. The success of this step in Beirut will pave the way for a gradual extension of this approach to the South, followed by the North and the Bekaa, thereby consolidating the Lebanese state’s authority throughout its territory and strengthening overall national stability.
At the same time, we call on Israel to fully honor any understandings or arrangements reached and to withdraw gradually from Lebanese territory in a manner that ensures lasting stability and respects Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ultimate objective must be a fully sovereign Lebanese state, free of any unlawful or foreign military presence.
In parallel, we believe that the issue of a general amnesty can no longer be postponed or used for political purposes. The adoption of a fair and comprehensive general amnesty law has become a national and humanitarian necessity, free from political posturing and partisan disputes.
What is required today is a balanced approach that safeguards the rights of those who have suffered injustice and takes into account the humanitarian circumstances of prisoners, while at the same time preserving the authority and standing of the military institution and maintaining security and stability.
True justice must not be selective. It must be comprehensive and balanced, protecting the nation, preserving human dignity, and safeguarding state institutions.
Lebanon needs a strong state, genuine candor, and responsible decisions that lead to peace and restore hope to the Lebanese people. This is what we are working to achieve.”