President Aoun meets EU delegation: Lebanon is against any act of war, return to negotiations is best option
3/4/2022 7:35:29 PM
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, emphasized on Friday that negotiations are the best option to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, "Because the adoption of peaceful means leads to avoiding any repercussions that increase differences between countries in general, and neighboring countries in specific".
The President also pointed out that Lebanon's position has always been and still is against any act of war or aggression directed against any free and independent country, indicating the importance of adopting the language of dialogue and solidarity between peoples and countries during crises and wars.
President Aoun's positions came while receiving the European Union delegation today at Baabda Palace.
The delegation was headed by Ambassador Ralph Tarraf, who thanked President Aoun for receiving him and the accompanying delegation, and for Lebanon's position in the United Nations General Assembly regarding the crisis in Ukraine.
"Lebanon joined 140 countries in the United Nations in condemning this unjustified Russian offensive act, which violated international laws and threatened security and stability in Europe. The EU calls on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ambassador Tarraf said.
Ambassador Tarraf also pointed out that the European Union had taken an effective action against this crisis and had issued a bundle of sanctions against the Russian economic system, its technology sector and its corrupt elite.
"We affirm that it is the hour of truth for Europe. Today's confrontation is between the democratic regime, the one-rule regime, and the aggressor. This war determines not only the fate of Ukraine, but the fate of all of Europe," Ambassador Tarraf added.
For his part, President Aoun pointed out that Lebanon's position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis stems from the necessity of adopting the language of dialogue to solve problems between countries and peoples, not the language of war.
"We are against any military action directed against any free and independent state, and we consider this an attack on sovereignty and independence as well as on the safe people. Lebanon has suffered many problems and wars, the consequences of which were dire for its people as well as for its infrastructure and economy, especially during the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982," the President said.
Moreover, President Aoun thanked the European Union for standing by Lebanon in various circumstances, especially after the explosion of Beirut port in 2020, and the huge losses that occurred as a result, whether in terms of the number of martyrs, victims, and wounded, or in terms of material losses after destroying a large part of Beirut.
In addition, the President pointed to the importance of solidarity between countries and peoples, especially during wars, and said: "Today, Europe will not abandon its role".
President Aoun then recalled that he had previously asserted the need to return to the negotiation option because it is the best solution to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as the adoption of peaceful means leads to avoiding any repercussions that increase differences between countries in general, and neighboring countries in particular.
The President considered that peaceful means to address inter-state conflicts remain the alternative to violence and dangerous military operations.
The European delegation included: Ambassadors and Chargé D'Affaires of the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden.
The President also pointed out that Lebanon's position has always been and still is against any act of war or aggression directed against any free and independent country, indicating the importance of adopting the language of dialogue and solidarity between peoples and countries during crises and wars.
President Aoun's positions came while receiving the European Union delegation today at Baabda Palace.
The delegation was headed by Ambassador Ralph Tarraf, who thanked President Aoun for receiving him and the accompanying delegation, and for Lebanon's position in the United Nations General Assembly regarding the crisis in Ukraine.
"Lebanon joined 140 countries in the United Nations in condemning this unjustified Russian offensive act, which violated international laws and threatened security and stability in Europe. The EU calls on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ambassador Tarraf said.
Ambassador Tarraf also pointed out that the European Union had taken an effective action against this crisis and had issued a bundle of sanctions against the Russian economic system, its technology sector and its corrupt elite.
"We affirm that it is the hour of truth for Europe. Today's confrontation is between the democratic regime, the one-rule regime, and the aggressor. This war determines not only the fate of Ukraine, but the fate of all of Europe," Ambassador Tarraf added.
For his part, President Aoun pointed out that Lebanon's position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis stems from the necessity of adopting the language of dialogue to solve problems between countries and peoples, not the language of war.
"We are against any military action directed against any free and independent state, and we consider this an attack on sovereignty and independence as well as on the safe people. Lebanon has suffered many problems and wars, the consequences of which were dire for its people as well as for its infrastructure and economy, especially during the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982," the President said.
Moreover, President Aoun thanked the European Union for standing by Lebanon in various circumstances, especially after the explosion of Beirut port in 2020, and the huge losses that occurred as a result, whether in terms of the number of martyrs, victims, and wounded, or in terms of material losses after destroying a large part of Beirut.
In addition, the President pointed to the importance of solidarity between countries and peoples, especially during wars, and said: "Today, Europe will not abandon its role".
President Aoun then recalled that he had previously asserted the need to return to the negotiation option because it is the best solution to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as the adoption of peaceful means leads to avoiding any repercussions that increase differences between countries in general, and neighboring countries in particular.
The President considered that peaceful means to address inter-state conflicts remain the alternative to violence and dangerous military operations.
The European delegation included: Ambassadors and Chargé D'Affaires of the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden.