Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, has reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to comprehensive reforms and the return of displaced Syrians during a meeting with a visiting delegation from the Washington-based Middle East Institute (MEI), led by retired U.S. General Joseph Votel.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Aoun communicated Lebanon’s determination to advance economic, financial, and administrative reforms. He described recent meetings between the Lebanese delegation and officials at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington as productive, expressing optimism about their potential positive impact on Lebanon’s struggling economy.

Aoun emphasized that fighting corruption is a top priority for the nation. He noted that the government, in collaboration with Parliament, has already enacted several reform-oriented laws and underscored the crucial role that the judiciary will soon play once judicial appointments are finalized.

Addressing the situation in southern Lebanon, Aoun stated that the Lebanese Army is actively fulfilling its duties in areas south of the Litani River and is fully implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. However, he criticized Israel’s continued occupation of five hills for hindering the army’s complete deployment along the border.

Aoun called on Washington to exert pressure on Israel to complete its withdrawal and facilitate the return of Lebanese detainees, enabling the Lebanese Army, in cooperation with UNIFIL, to take full responsibility for security in the south. He reiterated Lebanon’s stance that only the state should possess weapons, assuring that disarmament would be achieved through dialogue with stakeholders committed to peace and stability.

Highlighting Lebanon’s urgent need for international military assistance, Aoun appealed to the United States to support the Lebanese Army and security forces, arguing that it is in America’s interest to ensure Lebanon remains stable and secure.

Turning to regional concerns, Aoun said the Lebanese Army continues to monitor the Lebanese-Syrian border to control smuggling and cross-border movement. He revealed ongoing high-level communications between Beirut and Damascus aimed at resolving longstanding issues.

Addressing the issue of displaced Syrians, Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s insistence on their return, citing significant changes in Syria that negate the reasons for their continued presence in Lebanon. He urged the international community to lift economic sanctions on Syria to help revitalize its economy and create conditions for the return of displaced individuals.

Aoun warned that keeping displaced Syrians in Lebanon turns them into economic refugees, which the country cannot sustain.