jordan pulse -

​Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Wednesday that the decision to engage in negotiations was taken to spare the country the "calamities and tragedies caused by war," stressing that while diplomatic talks face obstacles, they remain a far better option than continued conflict.
​Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Maronite General Council led by Michel Matta, Aoun noted that key national objectives remain unified: liberating southern Lebanon, deploying the Lebanese Army up to the borders, securing the return of prisoners and displaced residents, and rebuilding affected areas. He asserted that experience has shown these goals cannot be accomplished through military force, leaving negotiation as the sole viable path forward.
​Aoun emphasized that nation-building is a collective responsibility where national interests must supersede individual or party agendas. Reflecting on the economic and political crises Lebanon has navigated since 2019, he commended the resilience of the Lebanese people and highlighted the nation's youth as the primary driver for recovery and future stability.