President of the National Dialogue Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi visited President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace. Discussions focused on domestic and regional developments, as well as the critical choices facing Lebanon at this delicate stage.
Makhzoumi expressed to His Excellency the President his deep appreciation for his clear and steadfast position and his commitment to the “Framework Agreement,” based on his conviction that the agreement represents the only realistic path currently available for Lebanon to break out of the cycle of war and instability, restore its sovereignty, and pave the way for a new phase of security, reconstruction, and economic recovery.
Makhzoumi stressed that Lebanon can no longer afford to waste more time or miss further opportunities. He emphasized that the priority today is no longer to debate whether state decisions will be implemented, but to move toward actual implementation. He affirmed that ensuring weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the state is neither a political slogan nor a provision that can be postponed, but rather a fundamental pillar of statehood and the restoration of sovereignty. He stressed that Hezbollah’s weapons must be placed under the authority of the state and that the Lebanese Army must be the sole authority bearing arms and exercising control throughout Lebanese territory.
At the same time, Makhzoumi affirmed that the continued occupation of any part of Lebanese territory is unacceptable. He stressed the need for Lebanon’s implementation of its commitments to go hand in hand with Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory and respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He explained that the two tracks are parallel and complementary: restoring the state’s authority and sovereignty at home, and reclaiming Lebanon’s full rights and sovereignty over its territory.
Makhzoumi emphasized that Lebanon’s national interests must be the sole guiding principle behind its national decisions, affirming that Lebanon cannot tie its future or strategic decisions to Iran or any external axis. He noted that Lebanon’s relations with other countries must be built on shared interests and mutual respect, while decisions concerning peace and war, as well as security and strategic policy, must be exclusively Lebanese and made solely by Lebanon’s constitutional institutions.
Alongside the restoration of sovereignty, Makhzoumi stressed that economic and financial reforms must not be postponed, as building the state and reviving the economy are two processes that must advance together. He noted that, following the passage of the Banking Reform and Restructuring Law, the priority now is to pass the Financial Gap Law on fair and transparent terms that protect depositors’ rights, distribute responsibilities and losses equitably in accordance with international standards, and set the banking sector on a path toward recovery and the restoration of confidence.
Makhzoumi also stressed the need to address the cash-based economy, which has become a serious threat to the Lebanese economy and to the state’s ability to exercise oversight, collect revenues, and combat tax evasion, corruption, and money laundering. He affirmed that it is impossible to build a modern economy, attract investment, and reintegrate Lebanon into the international financial system while a substantial portion of economic activity takes place outside the formal banking and financial system.
Makhzoumi emphasized that sovereignty and financial reform are not separate issues, and neither can be used as a pretext to delay the other. He stressed the need to implement the Framework Agreement, ensure that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the state, support the Lebanese Army, work toward a complete Israeli withdrawal, and advance financial, banking, and judicial reforms while tackling the cash-based economy.
He stated that all these measures must be implemented in parallel, and that implementation must begin immediately.
Makhzoumi concluded by affirming that His Excellency the President’s steadfast commitment to the “Framework Agreement” and to the principles of the state and its institutions is a responsible position that deserves full support, as Lebanon needs leadership that seizes the opportunity available and does not allow it to be squandered or state decisions to be obstructed.
Speaking from Baabda Palace, he said: “I reaffirm that our choice is clear: Lebanon first, and the state first. One state, one army, one set of weapons, and one decision on peace and war. This is the path to sovereignty, stability, and reform, and to rebuilding the confidence of the Lebanese people and the world in Lebanon and its future.”