Beirut: President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday urged a delegation of French and European parliamentarians to provide stronger and more effective support from the European Union, particularly for Lebanon's army, security institutions, and economy.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Aoun emphasized that since 2011, Lebanon has played a crucial role in limiting the flow of Syrian refugees toward Europe and insisted that European assistance should reflect the significant burden the country has shouldered. He called for coordinated EU support targeting the sectors most in need within Lebanon.

The president also informed the delegation about the ongoing Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington, reiterating Lebanon's primary demands: a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, the return of detainees, and the unrestricted deployment of the Lebanese Army up to internationally recognized borders.

Aoun argued that an Israeli withdrawal would enable the Lebanese state to extend its authority, eradicate armed manifestations, and eliminate justifications for any weapons outside the state's control. He stressed the necessity of a comprehensive political, military, economic, and social approach to address the issue of Hezbollah's weapons while maintaining Lebanon's political, security, and social stability.

The delegation, led by Arnaud Le Gall, expressed solidarity with Lebanon and committed to raising awareness in Europe about the humanitarian and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict. They pledged to support efforts aimed at mobilizing additional assistance for Lebanon.