President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, hosted a dinner at his residence in honor of U.S. Special Envoy Ambassador Tom Barrack. The dinner was attended by a number of MPs and ministers, as well as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.
In his remarks, MP Makhzoumi welcomed the U.S. envoy, describing him as a wise statesman and a steadfast friend of Lebanon. He expressed his deep gratitude to the United States, not only for its diplomatic role but also for its continued support for the Lebanese people, particularly through assistance to the Lebanese Army, the education sector, and numerous humanitarian and development programs. He also thanked U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson and her team for their ongoing support and unwavering commitment to Lebanon’s path toward reform and recovery.
Makhzoumi noted that Ambassador Barrack’s visit to Lebanon at this critical juncture sends a clear and firm message from the United States and the international community: Lebanon must fulfill all its political, military, and economic obligations to safeguard its sovereignty, stability, and future. At the heart of this message, he stressed, lies a principle that can no longer be ignored: all weapons must be placed under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese state. This includes the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, whose continued possession of weapons undermines national unity and constitutional legitimacy. He also called for the withdrawal of all weapons from Palestinian factions, both inside and outside the refugee camps, and for the dissolution of all Lebanese and foreign militias without exception.
Makhzoumi emphasized that these demands are not proposals but binding commitments undertaken by Lebanon under the Taif Agreement, United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701, and the cessation of hostilities agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on November 27, 2024. He stressed the need for a clear, transparent, and time-bound roadmap, underscoring that restoring the state’s exclusive control over weapons is not merely a political position but lies at the very heart of statehood.
Makhzoumi added that disarmament alone would not be enough to save Lebanon. The country must also work toward the full demarcation of all its land and maritime borders with neighboring countries and undertake profound structural reforms. These should include a comprehensive restructuring of the banking sector based on transparency, fairness, and the protection of depositors; eliminating the cash-based and informal economy; dismantling illegal financial institutions, such as Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, which operates outside the official regulatory framework and finances activities that threaten stability; and fundamentally reforming the judiciary to ensure the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of Lebanon’s courts.
He stressed that all these reforms must culminate in a comprehensive agreement with the International Monetary Fund, sending a clear message to the world that Lebanon is ready to become a full partner in the region and is open to investment and growth.
Makhzoumi concluded: “We must firmly support every sincere effort toward peace, because peace alone offers the path to stability, prosperity, and dignity for Lebanon and the region.”
For his part, Ambassador Barrack thanked Makhzoumi for hosting him, noting that Lebanon now faces a unique opportunity, albeit one limited by time. He expressed his deep faith in Lebanon and the Lebanese people, arguing that geography, borders, barriers, and all the other things people fight over have little meaning. Even when discussing disarmament, he said, “Instead of talking about weapons, let us talk about who carries them. If we do not change the existing infrastructure, nothing will change.”
Barrack stressed the need to move beyond the past, describing those gathered at Makhzoumi’s residence as reformers and identifying them as Lebanon’s only hope for recovery and renewal. He continued: “You have a U.S. president with this kind of courage, so make use of him. If this moment passes, I assure you that we will not have a second regional opportunity to put things in order.”