President Joseph Aoun congratulated the Lebanese people on Eid al-Adha at the start of the Cabinet session, wishing the occasion would bring better conditions for both Lebanon and its citizens. He said Lebanon fully understands the meaning of this holiday, as it has been “making sacrifices for others” for nearly four decades, and expressed hope for the country’s full and final liberation.

He praised the efforts of ministries dealing with displaced Lebanese, as well as the army, security forces, the Red Cross, Civil Defense, and other agencies working around the clock to provide essential services and ease the hardships faced by displaced people.

He also called on ministries to make use of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, whose quorum is now complete, and to involve it in relevant economic, social, and environmental policy discussions, in line with the law.

The President stressed the need to rely more on local legal and institutional expertise for certain judicial matters, rather than external bodies that may not fully reflect Lebanon’s legal framework. He also called for resolving outstanding payments owed to international law firms representing Lebanon in foreign cases, noting that these obligations date back to a period before the current government.