President of the National Dialogue Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi visited His Excellency President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace. They discussed the general situation and the latest developments following the announcement issued in Washington on June 26, as well as the historic opportunity available to Lebanon to restore its statehood and full sovereignty.
Following the meeting, Makhzoumi said:
“I reaffirmed to His Excellency my full support for this course of action, as it establishes, for the first time, a practical framework that restores the decision of war and peace exclusively to the Lebanese state, puts an end to Lebanon being turned into an arena for settling regional scores, and brings all forms of foreign interference in our national affairs to an end, foremost among them Iranian interference, which has usurped Lebanon’s decision-making authority and dragged the country into wars and crises that do not serve Lebanon’s interests.
“I also reaffirmed my full support for His Excellency President General Joseph Aoun in his leadership during this critical phase, as well as for Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam and the government. The success of this course requires a unified official position, rallying around state institutions, and ensuring that this national opportunity is not squandered.
“We believe that the announcement made in Washington constitutes a historic political and security framework that paves the way toward lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel. It builds on previous agreements and understandings, foremost among them the cessation of hostilities agreement announced on November 27, 2024. It also establishes the necessary executive and political mechanisms to complete the implementation of the commitments accepted by the Lebanese state, thereby enabling the state to extend its authority throughout all Lebanese territory, ensure that weapons remain exclusively in its hands, and restore its full sovereignty.
“It is important to recall that the cessation of hostilities agreement was endorsed by the government of President Najib Mikati on behalf of the Lebanese Republic. Politically and in parliament, that government relied on the forces that supported it, foremost among them Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and their allies.
“The framework announced in Washington builds on previous agreements and understandings while adding executive and political mechanisms to complete the implementation of the Lebanese state’s commitments and achieve the objectives to which it has pledged itself. Accordingly, those who accepted these commitments yesterday cannot object to completing their implementation today. Respecting the continuity of the state and honoring its commitments is not a political choice; it is a national and constitutional duty. Any retreat from these commitments would undermine the state’s credibility and harm Lebanon’s supreme interests.
“Today, Lebanon has no realistic alternative to this course. Either we restore the state, its sovereignty, and the confidence of the Arab world and the international community, or we remain trapped in crises, isolation, and collapse.
“I also proposed to His Excellency the President that, alongside the implementation of security arrangements, the government adopt a national strategy for recovery, reconstruction, and development in areas where the state is reassuming responsibility. This should proceed in parallel with the phased extension of state authority and the deployment of the Lebanese Army, following the state’s receipt of Hezbollah’s weapons in accordance with the approved implementation mechanisms.
“It is not enough for the Lebanese Army to enter these areas; the state must enter with it through all its institutions. What is needed is the reconstruction of homes and infrastructure, the launch of development projects and productive investments, the creation of job opportunities for young people, and improvements in education and healthcare services. These measures would restore citizens’ confidence in the state and establish a natural sense of loyalty to its institutions.
“Experience has demonstrated that development gaps were filled by parallel institutions imposed by political parties and armed organizations, which took the place of the state. Today, however, the state has a responsibility to fully reclaim this role, ensuring that no parallel institution or alternative authority exists outside the institutions of the Lebanese Republic.
“Restoring the state is not merely a slogan; it is a comprehensive project built on full sovereignty, one army, one legitimate arsenal, unified institutions, a productive economy, equal justice, and a future worthy of all Lebanese people.”