President Joseph Aoun (6th from the right), surrounded by members of the Tachnag delegation, whom he hosted on Dec. 15, 2025, at the Baabda Presidential Palace. (Credit: National News Agency)
President Joseph Aoun affirmed Monday that "contacts are ongoing both domestically and abroad in order to ensure security and stability in southern Lebanon, through negotiations within the cease-fire supervision committee [known as the 'mechanism']."
The president made these remarks during a meeting at the Baabda Presidential Palace with a delegation from the Tashnag Party, led by the party's secretary-general, Albert Balabanian, and MP Hagop Pakradounian.
He noted that the cease-fire supervision committee will meet next Friday and that its work is supported on the Lebanese, Arab and international levels.
"Choosing negotiations is the alternative to war, which yields no results and will only bring Lebanon and the Lebanese — without exception — loss and destruction," Aoun added.
He emphasized the need "to adopt a sense of national responsibility and prioritize unity in order to strengthen Lebanon's position in the negotiations."
Following the war between Hezbollah and Israel, which ended with a cease-fire agreement in November 2024, this cease-fire supervision committee was established under the chairmanship of an American general.
Although initially composed only of military personnel, Aoun created a stir in early December by appointing a civilian to the committee, former Ambassador Simon Karam.
Israel did likewise, which has significantly altered the committee's mission. Lebanon had several times expressed its willingness to negotiate with Israel to put an end to instability in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army still occupies five positions it deems strategic despite the agreement stipulating a total withdrawal and continues its daily violations of Lebanese territory under the pretext of "preventing Hezbollah from restoring its military capabilities."
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