NNA - President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Wednesday informed French Presidential Envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, during a meeting held at Baabda Palace and attended by French Ambassador Hervé Magro, that he was looking forward to his upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday. 

The visit, Aoun said, is an opportunity to express his appreciation for France’s unwavering support for Lebanon and, in particular, President Macron’s personal role in facilitating the completion of Lebanon’s presidential election.  

President Aoun affirmed that his talks with Macron will cover matters of mutual concern and the strengthening of bilateral relations, with a view to developing Lebanese-French cooperation across all sectors.  

The President also stressed that reform remains a top priority, alongside the reconstruction of towns and villages devastated by Israeli bombardment during the recent war. He noted that work is underway to restore confidence both domestically and internationally, especially given the opportunities currently available—chief among them France’s ongoing support and President Macron’s diplomatic engagement in this regard.  

The President reiterated his determination, in coordination with the government, to overcome the challenges that may hinder the reform process in Lebanon’s economic, financial, judicial, and administrative sectors. 

President Aoun then pointed out that meetings with the International Monetary Fund have already begun to assess the steps needed to implement reforms that the Lebanese authorities themselves consider essential, even before being demanded by the international community. He added that forthcoming administrative measures will send a positive signal to both local and international stakeholders.  

On the security front, the President highlighted ongoing Israeli violations in the south, which he said contradict the agreement reached in November, citing Israel’s continued occupation of the five strategic hills and its failure to release Lebanese detainees captured during the recent conflict. 

President Aoun also urged the guarantors of the agreement to press Israel to uphold its commitments, in order to preserve their own credibility and to ensure the restoration of stability and the cessation of hostilities.  

The discussion also covered the security situation along Lebanon’s border with Syria.

=========R.H.