President Joseph Aoun on Jan. 9, 2025. (Credit: Archive photo/Lebanese Presidency)
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday outlined achievements made over the past year to diplomats and international representatives in Lebanon, focusing on reforms and disarmament.
Aoun told the disarmament delegation: "I can tell you that the truth is what you see, not what you hear," as reported by the Lebanese Presidency.
Aoun said his initial goal was to ensure stability and prepare Lebanon for recovery by strengthening sovereignty and security, rebuilding state institutions, advancing key economic and financial reforms, and respecting democratic timelines.
Disarmament
Regarding the disarmament plan, Aoun told the diplomatic corps: "We have accomplished what Lebanon has not seen in 40 years."
Since September of last year, the Lebanese Army has begun efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon has also began the process of disarming Palestinian factions, mainly Fatah so far.
The president said that “despite Israel’s failure to abide by the cease-fire agreement,” and despite the limits of Lebanon’s armed forces, no shots were fired from Lebanon during his year in office, except for two isolated incidents last March, after which those involved were quickly arrested.
"This confirms, for more than ten months now, that the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese armed forces alone have been effectively present south of the Litani. They have undertaken enormous tasks to clear vast areas of any illegal weapons, of any kind or affiliation. We achieved this despite all provocations, despite the continued attacks, and despite the doubt, accusations, insults, and slander that we have — and will continue to — face with the smile of someone confident in the strength of their cause, the inevitability of fulfilling their duty, and their faith in the success of their mission", he added.
"As we declare this with pride, we reaffirm our determination to continue on this path in the second year of my presidency — so that our land may fully return under the authority of the state alone, all our detainees may return, and we may rebuild everything that was destroyed as a result of attacks and reckless ventures," he noted.
State rebuilding, reforms
Regarding reconstruction, Aoun said that 2,240 decrees were issued in less than a year of the government’s term, reconstituting the vast majority of state administrations and their core bodies — in the military, security, diplomacy, judiciary, finance, monetary sector, and across the various public administrations.
"This process will certainly be completed this year," he added.
In terms of reforms, he said that Lebanon has made tremendous progress in this area, mentioning the approval of the law on judicial independence, as well as the establishment of regulatory bodies for sectors "whose frameworks had been left unchanged for up to a quarter of a century, creating gaps that allowed corruption, waste, and political clientelism to flourish."
"This extends to financial and banking reforms, which we culminated with a series of draft laws addressing the repercussions of the 2019 collapse," he continued.
The President also noted steady economic improvement, noting that international institutions’ data show that Lebanon recorded growth in 2025 that may be among the highest in the region, with the national output making a significant leap, and financial inflows to Lebanon returning to levels approaching the boom of 15 years ago.
Aoun concluded the assessment with the topic of reconstituting legitimate authorities, recalling that Lebanon held municipal elections last year for the first time in nine years.
"We will repeat this with the parliamentary elections scheduled for mid-year, despite all the opposing rhetoric and campaigns", he said amid fears of a potential postponement of these elections.
External front
On the external front, Aoun said that his objective was to return Lebanon to its natural place and role within Arab legitimacy, as well as within international and U.N. legitimacy.
"This is what I have worked to achieve step by step — through 10 visits to sister Arab countries, four visits to friendly European states, and participation in three international events, Arab, Islamic, and U.N.-related", he said.
"We also welcomed heads of friendly states and dozens of international delegations. The peak of this clear and radiant solidarity with Lebanon came with the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV."
Aoun also recalled the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Beirut between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2. He also mentioned the Pope's words at the beginning of this year, which gained significance for Lebanon’s cause, in which he affirmed that the peace our world needs today is “a peace stripped of weapons, and one that strips away weapons,” calling on all states and leaders to “remove weapons from the heart, the mind, and life.”
Aoun added that throughout all the foreign visits he made this year, his message was one and the same: Lebanon is a country dedicated to peace.
The President finally said that when he looks ahead to tomorrow, he realizes that there is still much to be done.
"But I am confident, certain, and resolute that we will continue on this path, complete it, and reach its positive conclusions for all our people and our land. Not a single person will be left behind, and not an inch will be lost," he said.
"I promise you that next year, at a date close to this one, we will meet here again. Our list of achievements will be longer, my country will be in better conditions, and my people will enjoy greater well-being and a fuller life — because our right is higher and greater", he concluded.
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