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Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Lebanon's president urges unity to seize Arab support, pledges no more wars
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday warned that his country cannot endure another war, stressing that national unity and Arab cooperation are key to Lebanon's recovery. 'The Lebanese can no longer withstand any additional war,' Aoun said, as he urged leaders to reject divisions and foreign meddling, and instead harness growing regional support to rebuild the nation. He was speaking to a delegation of prominent Sunni religious leaders headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian at the Republican Palace. The president condemned what he termed Lebanon's historical 'fatal error' —seeking foreign backing against domestic opponents. 'We all saw the devastating consequences of this approach,' Aoun said. 'Instead, I want to strengthen partnerships with my brothers and allies domestically to counter external threats, regardless of their source.' Aoun cited Israel as exemplifying the divide-and-conquer strategy that, he said, Lebanon must resist through internal unity. 'Our cohesion confronts this approach and addresses all challenges,' he said. The president gave reassurances about the country's future, saying that 'Lebanon is secure, and we will not return to warfare rhetoric. Our framework is Lebanon itself, destined only for stability and prosperity.' Fresh from diplomatic talks in Manama, where Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Wednesday announced plans for a permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut, Aoun praised recent interfaith coordination that prevented regional tensions from destabilizing Lebanon. Highlighting the emerging opportunities for Lebanon's recovery, his call was to seize the support offered by Lebanon's regional neighbors. 'We have tremendous prospects ahead of us. You witness how our Arab brothers are extending their hands and approaching us. We must capitalize on these chances and transform our nation's circumstances.' He commended the collaboration between Mufti Derian and the Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Aql Sami Abi Al-Mona, during Syria's Sweida clashes, calling it evidence of 'elevated national consciousness and profound responsibility.' The president criticized those 'spreading rumors to intimidate citizens against one another,' while celebrating the dual contributions of Lebanon's Sunni community: internal moderation and affirming Lebanon's Arab identity. Aoun praised the community's sacrifices, noting religious and political leaders who died serving Lebanon, from clerics Sheikh Ahmed Assaf, Mufti Hassan Khaled, and Mufti Subhi Al-Saleh, to prime ministers Riad Al-Solh, Rashid Karami, and Rafic Hariri. 'No individual possesses the power to eliminate another in Lebanon, nor does anyone hold superior merit,' Aoun said. 'United, we all serve Lebanon's interests. Divided, we destroy the entire nation, leaving no protection for anyone.' Aoun reported significant progress in government reform, claiming achievements unseen in nearly 15 years — recognition he attributed to international observers. While acknowledging the absence of quick fixes, he emphasized making the most of available opportunities. Addressing corruption — which he identified as Lebanon's core problem alongside impunity — Aoun vowed continued action. 'Corruption recognizes no boundaries of color, sect, or denomination,' he concluded. Meanwhile, Mufti Derian expressed deep concern over the prevailing 'fear and anxiety among the Lebanese,' warning that the country is entering a precarious phase during continued Israeli aggression. He emphasized that UN Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war, has been implemented solely by the Lebanese side, while Israel has consistently failed to respect its obligations under the resolution. The November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was intended to revive the terms of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, a halt to Hezbollah's military operations near the southern border, and full control of arms by the Lebanese state. But little progress has been made. 'Even the ceasefire that followed was unilateral, respected and implemented only by Lebanon. According to what we are witnessing, new agreements are now being proposed. Let Resolution 1701, which encompasses all relevant matters, be implemented in full, and let new agreements be dispensed with,' Mufti Derian said in a call for international accountability. He added: 'The Lebanese people have endured immense hardship in recent years, facing one crisis after another, and yet they have remained resilient. Today, more than ever, they need to feel the presence of a state that stands to protect them.' He reaffirmed support for Aoun in upholding the oath of office, 'which we regard as a vital gateway to rescuing both Lebanon and its people. In this critical moment, we look to you to help steer the country through uncertainty, as citizens grow increasingly anxious over the prospect of renewed Israeli aggression. We stand behind the Arab consensus, whatever all Arabs agree upon, we support,' Mufti Derian told Aoun. He praised Aoun's efforts to restore Lebanon's influential position in the region, citing his regional visits and the trust he enjoys among Arab and international partners. He also commended the president's commitment to preserve stability among Lebanon's diverse communities. 'The voice of moderation and centrism must prevail among all Lebanese,' Derian said, calling for cooperation. Lebanon is facing mounting international pressure to implement the US plan, which calls for setting a timetable for the process of restricting arms to the state in implementation of the ceasefire agreement. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack highlighted the issue on Wednesday upon his departure from Lebanon after a three-day visit filled with meetings with Lebanese officials. Barrack confirmed from Beirut airport that 'there is no deadline for this, and your neighbors are the ones who set the timetable, not the United States,' referring to Israel. On the security front, the Central Internal Security Council convened a high-level meeting, bringing together senior military, security, and judicial officials. Lebanon's Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar emphasized the importance of sustained field operations, calling for intensified patrols and a reinforced security presence in Lebanese regions to uphold internal stability. He also highlighted the need to strengthen existing measures along the Syrian border to ensure tighter control and enhanced national security. The Lebanese Army Command announced that army units arrested 78 Syrians at the Assi-Hermel and Chadra-Akkar checkpoints for illegally entering Lebanese territory. The army also said that an Intelligence Directorate patrol raided the homes of wanted individuals in Beirut's southern suburbs, specifically in the Bir al-Abed area, and arrested four citizens.
Arab News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Syrian president, Lebanon's grand mufti hold ‘frank' talks in Damascus
BEIRUT: Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian had an hour-long meeting at the People's Palace in Damascus on Saturday. Derian's visit was the first by a Lebanese Sunni religious leader to Syria in more than 20 years, signaling a thaw in relations between the two nations that had been strained since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the start of the Syrian war in 2011. Described as 'frank,' the meeting addressed past estrangements and shared aspirations for renewal. Derian, accompanied by a delegation of religious leaders, including Sheikh Mohammed Assaf, head of the Sunni Shariah courts, emphasized the importance of reconciliation and cooperation. 'After a long absence we come to reform the present and build a prosperous future,' he said, acknowledging the suffering of millions of Syrians and praising their resilience in the face of extremism and displacement. He lauded the Syrian Arab Republic's path toward free elections under Al-Sharaa — the first for more than 60 years — and expressed hope for its revival as a pillar of the Arab world and ability to overcome challenges like the recent Damascus church bombing, which he cited as evidence of ongoing conspiracies. 'Syrians will not be defeated by terrorism,' he said, praising Al-Sharaa's navigation of a 'difficult and arduous' road. Derian underscored a renewed Lebanese-Syrian partnership founded on mutual support and Arab unity, and highlighted the promise of Lebanon's own trajectory under a new government committed to the Taif Agreement. 'The hopes of the Lebanese are pinned on what was contained in the ministerial statement and the presidential oath, which are the beginning of the road to rebuilding a strong and just state, striving to serve all the Lebanese,' he said. 'Lebanon's rise can only be achieved through the efforts of its best and loyal sons, both residents and expatriates, and the support of his Arab brothers and friends.' He said there could be no salvation for Lebanon except through 'sincere and constructive cooperation' with other Arab nations, which he described as the 'guarantee of Lebanon's security, stability, sovereignty, national unity and civilized Arabism which believes in the commitment to the Taif Agreement document … sponsored by Saudi Arabia.' As a symbol of the strong ties between Lebanon and Syria, Derian presented Al-Sharaa with the Dar Al-Fatwa Gold Medal. 'We will stand with you in every calamity and joy,' he said. The visit, coordinated with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, began with prayers at the Umayyad Mosque and a stop at Mount Qasioun. In a separate meeting with Syrian Minister of Endowments Mohammed Abu Al-Khair, Derian emphasized Dar Al-Fatwa's role in promoting moderate Islam, citizenship and coexistence amid regional challenges. A Lebanese political observer framed the visit as a pivotal shift, not just religious but political, signaling Lebanese Sunnis' readiness to forge a 'new and normal' relationship with Syria's emerging leadership. The visit underscores Lebanon's reaffirmation of its Arab identity and commitment to moderation, moving beyond decades of tension marked by assassinations and conflict. Hezbollah, through its activists on social media, reacted cautiously to Derian's visit to Damascus and his meeting with Al-Sharaa, with some accusing him of 'stabbing the party in the back.'
