BEIRUT (LEBANON) (ITALPRESS) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his “gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for all his efforts to support Lebanon in achieving its demands for an end to Israeli occupation and aggression on its soil.“ This was reported by the Lebanese presidency in X, following the meeting in the Vatican between the Pontiff and Aoun. The Lebanese head of state “urged the Pope to continue supporting these demands, first and foremost Israel’s obligation to implement the terms of the framework agreement, to immediately cease attacks on villages and infrastructure in the south and on civilians, and to withdraw from the occupied territories.”
At the Holy See, Aoun also met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Vatican Secretary of State for Relations with States, Archbishop Richard Gallagher. During both meetings, Aoun “expressed Lebanon’s gratitude to the Holy See for all the efforts made in support of the country since the Pope’s recent visit” and “then outlined the political, economic, and social developments Lebanon has undergone in recent times.”
Aoun “urged the Pope and Vatican officials to continue diplomatic efforts in all international forums to meet Lebanon’s demands, first and foremost to force Israel to implement the terms of the framework agreement signed under the auspices of the United States on June 26 and to end the daily attacks, which particularly target civilians, infrastructure, civilian facilities, and villages in the south of the country” and “to support Lebanon in achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories, paving the way for the reconstruction of what Israel has destroyed and the return of displaced persons to their homes and villages.”
Aoun stressed that these steps must be accompanied by the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority across its entire territory and by the state’s exclusive control over decisions regarding war and peace, as the only way to ensure security and stability on the borders, the presidency concluded.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
