A statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic following the meeting between President Aoun and the US delegation:

President Michel Aoun received the US delegation comprising Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Representative John Wilson, in the presence of US envoy Ambassador Tom Breck and Ms. Morgan Ortagis, alongside US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and accompanying delegation. The meeting covered the situation in Lebanon and the region, the results of the delegation’s tour, and the talks conducted by Ambassador Breck and Ms. Ortagis in Israel and Syria. During the meeting, President Aoun renewed his thanks to the US administration and Congress for their continued interest in Lebanon and their commitment to assist it under the directives of President Donald Trump. He was briefed by the delegation members on their visit to Damascus and expressed great satisfaction with the Syrian readiness to establish better relations with Lebanon, emphasizing it as a mutual desire and will between the two countries.

He reiterated Lebanon’s readiness to immediately address outstanding bilateral issues in the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation, good neighborliness, and the historical relations between the two peoples, stressing Lebanon’s full support for the unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

President Aoun was also briefed on the delegation’s visit to Israel and the positions expressed by Israeli officials. He reaffirmed Lebanon’s full commitment to the November 27 ceasefire declaration, which was adopted under US-French auspices and unanimously approved by the previous government. He renewed Lebanon’s commitment to the US-Lebanese joint declaration approved by the Cabinet in all its provisions without any omission. President Aoun thanked the US side for its continued support of the Lebanese army and armed forces and strengthening them in all fields to carry out their national duties regarding exclusive security and stability in Lebanon. He hoped the US side would continue communications with all concerned parties, especially friendly Arab and Western countries, to support and expedite the reconstruction and economic recovery processes. He appreciated the delegation members’ statements about the US vision to save Lebanon, based on three principles:

3. Preserving Lebanon’s consensual democracy that protects all Lebanese groups within a free pluralistic system that treats them equally before the law and as full partners in managing the state and country.