Aoun: Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts

President Joseph Aoun told a non-official EU summit in Cyprus on Friday that Lebanon has engaged in a diplomatic negotiation process under the auspices of the U.S. and with the support of the European Union and Arab states in order to "reach a sustainable solution that puts an end to Israeli aggression and leads to a complete Israeli withdrawal ... enabling the state to extend its authority over all its territory."

"Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. It negotiates in its own name, defending its national interests and sovereignty," Aoun stressed.

"Like other countries in the region, Lebanon attaches great importance to and has a vested interest in de-escalation and the establishment of stability and peace, believing that diplomacy, not escalation, is the only path to a sustainable solution," the president said.

He added that "with the appropriate support, Lebanon can move beyond crisis management and play a constructive role in regional recovery, economic integration, and long-term stability."

"We look to our partners not only for support, but for a deeper partnership based on shared interests and mutual responsibility," Aoun said.

He also emphasized that Lebanon is "ready and determined to move forward," while counting on its friends' support to achieve this.

Lebanon’s president calls on European Union to hold conference for reconstruction of his country

President Joseph Aoun’s comments Friday came during a visit to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus where he’s a guest at the European Union summit.

Aoun said in a speech that “Lebanon’s stability is part of the region’s stability.”

He added that Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. He was apparently referring to Iran, which has put a permanent ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group on top of its list in talks with the U.S..

Aoun said Lebanon, like other countries in the region, “places great importance on de-escalation, stability, and peace.”

Aoun used World Bank figures, saying the Israel-Hezbollah has caused damage worth $1.4 billion to Lebanon’s infrastructure and that 38,000 housing units were destroyed.

He added that 150,000 people in Lebanon are without homes.