Aoun stresses 'step-for-step' approach with Israel

President Joseph Aoun said in an interview that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s paper “became a Lebanese paper” after Lebanon “introduced its remarks to it.”

“It will not become in effect before Lebanon, Syria and Israel agree to it. The second matter that we emphasized is the ‘step-for-step’ principle, because if any step is not implemented, the step that matches it will not be implemented in return,” Aoun told Al-Arabiya television.

He added that he had to choose between two options: “I either agree to the paper and tell the world that I performed my duty and that they now have to perform their duty in obtaining Israel approval of it, or I don’t agree and then Israel would increase its attacks and Lebanon would become isolated economically.”

“None of us can respond to the attacks. And if anyone has a third choice that can lead to Israel’s withdrawal, the liberation of the captives, border demarcation and the economy’s revival, let them come forth and propose it,” Aoun said.

Noting that Hezbollah’s arms are a “domestic affair” and that “state institutions are concerned with addressing this matter,” the president added that he believes that “no one in the Lebanese state across the country has a problem with arms monopolization.”

Aoun also stressed that his concern is “not to move Lebanon from one axis to another,” but rather to “restore Lebanon, end its isolation and achieve security, prosperity and stability.”

“I don’t have a political or electoral ambition not a party to be concerned about, I’m only concerned about Lebanon and I have an occupation in the South that I want to get rid of. I also want to finalize border demarcation with Syria, not to move the country from one axis to another,” the president went on to say.