Aoun addresses 'possibility of Canadian flights returning to Lebanon'

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun addressed the "possibility of Canadian flights returning to Lebanon" with the Canadian ambassador to Lebanon, Gregory Galligan, at Baabda Presidential Palace on Thursday, according to the Lebanese Presidency.

"Aoun received Galligan and held a wide-ranging discussion with him on the current situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments, Lebanese-Canadian relations, and ways to develop them in various fields," according to a statement by the Lebanese Presidency on X. "The discussion also addressed the possibility of Canadian flights returning to Lebanon."

This comes a few days after U.S. President Donald Trump officially lifted decades-old restrictions on flights between his country and Lebanon, marking a significant step toward their eventual resumption. Aoun welcomed the decision, calling it ''a sign of confidence in the measures taken by the Lebanese state to guarantee the security of civil aviation.''

'Negotiations have slowed down'

On Thursday, Aoun also discussed negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, stalled since early August, saying that they have "slowed down," but "this does not mean that they have stopped."

"Had we not resorted to negotiations, Israeli aggression would have reached Beirut and various public facilities," he added.

He did not deny difficulties hindering the process, but gave examples of "several negotiating processes that took years to reach the desired solutions."

"Regional and international developments, as well as the Israeli elections, [scheduled for Oct. 27], may have slowed the pace of negotiations, but this does not mean they have stopped, given the continuation of contacts being conducted by [Lebanon's] Ambassador [Nada] Moawad with the U.S. administration to push them forward," he said.

“Wars usually end either when one side achieves a crushing victory over the other, which surrenders, or through negotiations," he added.