President of the Republic Joseph Aoun said on the 21st anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri that Lebanon "misses a man who dedicated his life to the state-building project, to rebuilding Lebanon, and to strengthening its Arab and international presence."

Aoun said the late premier believed in "the state and its institutions, in coexistence, and in investing in people, education and the economy as the foundation of real recovery," describing his assassination as a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s history and a reminder that building a state requires great sacrifices.

Aoun concluded that honoring Hariri’s memory means renewing commitment to "a strong and just state governed by law, safeguarding national unity and placing Lebanon’s interest above all else."