President Aoun: The upcoming visit of the Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister to Lebanon includes political, economic and investment files”.
President Aoun: Lebanon is keen on the best relations with the Gulf states. Lebanon does not forget the white hands of these states in many stations”.
President Aoun: “All infrastructure projects are presented to Qatari investors”.
President Aoun affirmed his keen interest in holding the parliamentary elections:
“Lebanon cannot bear the renewal of the class that caused the economic and livelihood collapse”.
President Aoun: “I will work to create all conditions for holding the presidential elections”.
President Aoun: “The crisis with Gulf states will not affect the participation of expatriates in the elections. We welcome the participation of European organizations in monitoring the integrity of the parliamentary elections”.
President Aoun to all parties: “Stop tampering with the lives of the Lebanese. I call on the political forces to take a stance of solidarity in which we save our homeland and restore dignity to the people”.
President Aoun: “The adoption of the Capital Control Law in the House of Representatives is a step to solve the problem of deposits. Negotiations are ongoing with the IMF and the World Bank to provide urgent solutions to the living crisis”.
President Aoun: “Parliament will decide who will have the authority to judge presidents, representatives and ministers”.
President Aoun: “Satellite images we received from Russia will assist the Port investigations”.
President Aoun: “Lebanon is still a safe country, despite all the exceptional circumstances it is going through. I assure everyone that there is no return to war in Lebanon”.
President Aoun: “We are awaiting what the US side will bear from an Israeli response to our conditions. We will not give up our rights to our oil wealth in the Mediterranean”.
President Aoun: “Lebanon wants to benefit from the Qatari experience in exploration and extraction of gas”.
President Aoun: Negotiations with the World Bank are proceeding on a separate track from political differences. The dialogue regarding the formula of the new government needs a cool discussion and not a pressured one”.
President Aoun: “No official convicted by the forensic audit of the Banque du Liban will be excluded”.
President Aoun: “Hezbollah abides by everything that is required of the party and did not exceed Resolution 1701. I am ready to demonstrate with people in the face of hunger and low standards of living”.
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, affirmed that the Prince of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is keen to support Lebanon and help it out of its crises.
The President praised the results of his fruitful talks with Sheikh Tamim and his visit to Doha, pointing out that Qatar is the only country that has provided all types of support for Lebanon free of charge.
President Aoun also clarified that the visit of the Qatari Foreign Minister to Lebanon has not yet been scheduled, but it will be full of political, economic and investment files, stressing that all utility and infrastructure projects in Lebanon are available to Qatari investors.
In addition, the President expressed his hope that the diplomatic cloud with the Gulf states would clear up through dialogue and mutual respect, stressing Lebanon's keenness on the best relations with the Gulf states.
Moreover, President Aoun stressed that the parliamentary elections will be held on time, under the supervision of international organizations, explaining that his words regarding extending his term were misunderstood.
On the other hand, President Aoun addressed the Lebanese, calling on the political forces to a word of solidarity, “In which we save our homeland and restore dignity to the people”. The President assured everyone that there is no return to wars in Lebanon.
Regarding people’s deposits in banks, President Aoun explained that the distribution of losses between the Lebanese state, banks and depositors is being studied, with his keenness not to burden depositors with more losses. President Aoun said that the approval of the Capital Control Law in Parliament is a step to solve the deposit problem.
In addition, President Aoun stressed that the forensic audit of the accounts of the Banque du Liban, which is being conducted for the first time in the history of Lebanon, will end with the identification of defects and responsibilities, stressing that no official who is convicted in the criminal investigation will be excluded.
The President clarified that the controversy regarding the powers of the judicial investigator in the Beirut port explosion could be settled in the House of Representatives, which will hold a plenary session to decide who will have the authority to judge presidents, representatives and ministers, and this will lead to solving the government crisis that has disrupted cabinet meetings.
President Aoun also indicated that the issue of demarcating the southern maritime border between Lebanon and Israel is awaiting what the US side will bear from an Israeli response to Lebanon's conditions for demarcating the maritime border, stressing that the Lebanese rights to oil wealth in the Mediterranean will not be abandoned, noting that the extraction of Lebanese oil wealth is linked to political developments. Moreover, the President expressed his desire to benefit from the Qatari experience in the field of exploration and extraction of gas.
Stances of the President came during an interview with the Qatari newspaper “Al-Sharq” on the occasion of his visit to Doha, where he made clarified that Qatar is a permanent friend of Lebanon, praise be to God that the history of the strong relations dating back to the fifties of the last century did not record any setback or any political or diplomatic flaw.
The President pointed out that “The visit was an occasion to strengthen these relations, stressing that the talks with the Emir of Qatar were fruitful and important, as the developments of the situation in Lebanon and the region were reviewed, especially since Lebanon is affected by what is happening in the Arab and Gulf environments.
On the importance of this visit, President Aoun saw that if his visit to Qatar indicated anything, it indicated his personal concern and the keenness of all the Lebanese for Lebanon to remain an active member in the Arab family, and to establish the best relations of cooperation and brotherhood between members of this family, especially between Lebanon and the Gulf states and their peoples. .
“We cannot forget or ignore the white hands that extended to us from the Gulf countries, in many difficult stations and circumstances. Nor should we forget the generous hospitality received by the Lebanese working in the Gulf countries” President Aoun said, expressing his hope that this gray cloud that hangs in the atmosphere of relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states should be resolved as soon as possible, through dialogue, trust and mutual respect.
In response to a question, the President indicated that the economic situation in Lebanon is conducive to investment and investors, as the facilities and infrastructure need to be restored, rehabilitated and developed, and these constitute great investment opportunities.
Qatari-Lebanese Relations:
President Aoun asserted that Lebanese-Qatari relations are characterized by friendship and a spirit of brotherhood, pointing out that Qatari brothers have always came to Lebanon for recreation and tourism, and the State of Qatar, with its leaders, officials and people, has always stood by Lebanon in its face of challenges and tribulations, especially after the July 2006 war, when Qatar provided aid for the reconstruction of war destruction. “Qatar also took the initiative to host the National Dialogue Conference in 2008 and built the Lebanese National Library, which is a great achievement, as well as the restoration of archaeological buildings and the reconstruction of dozens of schools and universities that were damaged by the port explosion. Qatar sent five field hospitals, and provided tons of aid monthly to the Lebanese army” the President said.
In addition, President Aoun stressed that "Qatar is the only country that has provided Lebanon with material, political and moral assistance out of friendship and brotherhood, and “We have never seen that the State of Qatar seeks to gain any influence in Lebanon, or has any ambitions. This makes relations between our two countries governed by respect. To this day, our relations are in constant development, and the Lebanese living and working in Qatar feel that it is their second home. I hope that our bilateral relations will strengthen in all fields, and we will continue our joint cooperation for the good of our countries and peoples”.
Regarding the existence of favorable conditions for calling for a national dialogue conference in Doha, as happened in 2008, President Aoun considered that “Lebanon has in fact reached a very sensitive and dangerous stage, economically and politically, in which we need a deep meeting between the members of the Lebanese family to draw a road map for the future. Since the horrific deterioration in the living conditions that we have reached has severely affected the ability of the Lebanese to endure, and it threatens to get worse. Therefore, I call for a deep dialogue between the Lebanese, to discuss steps to rise and restore cohesion between them”.
Regarding the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar to Lebanon, the President clarified that the date of the visit has not been set, but the files of the visit are numerous, starting from the diplomatic crisis with the Gulf, passing through the internal situation in Lebanon and the economic crisis, in addition to Qatari investments in Lebanon, where all infrastructure projects will be on the table for Qatari investors.
Diplomatic crisis with the Gulf states:
President Aoun tackled the diplomatic crisis with the Gulf states and ways to get out of it, noting that the official Lebanese position on any issue, country or relationship is expressed by the head of state, the speaker of parliament, or the Lebanese government. “Lebanon's official stances towards the Gulf states express nothing but adherence to establishing the best fraternal relations with them, and this is true in the past, today and in the future. Nothing will change our convictions in this regard. Therefore, we hope that this fact will be taken into account, and that stances are not built and measures taken in response to unofficial positions, or opinions that do not bind the Lebanese state, and do not even express the convictions of the majority of the Lebanese people”.
The President emphasized that the only way out of the crisis is “Through constructive dialogue between us, discussion, and the return of diplomatic relations to normal. I have been clear since the first day of the crisis that I have nothing but full respect, appreciation and gratitude to the Gulf states for their positions in support of Lebanon, their support for our country, and their embrace of the Lebanese”.
Parliamentary Elections on Time:
In response to a question about the possibility of the impact of the crisis with the Gulf states on the voting of the Lebanese residing in these countries, President Aoun stressed that this crisis has nothing to do with the desire of the expatriates residing in the Gulf to vote, explaining that they have already registered to participate in the elections, and this is one of their most important rights in the democratic system. In addition, President Aoun stressed that voting is a duty and responsibility that must be exercised with commitment if the Lebanese, residents and expatriates, truly desire change. “On the logistical level, the crisis does not affect the possibility of voting abroad”.
The President emphasized that he had taken a national and comprehensive decision to hold the parliamentary elections on time, because this entitlement is at the top of the rights of the Lebanese in choosing their representatives in the parliament, and the main course in preserving the integrity of democratic life in Lebanon.
“We will not turn back the hands of disrupting the elections and constitutional benefits, and the Lebanese deserve to have their say in the path of changing the painful reality we have reached, and that can only be through a basic gateway, which is the parliamentary elections, and confronting any attempt to disrupt it intentionally and in bad faith, or for any other reason” President Aoun stated.
On the impact of expatriates’ participation in the election results, President Aoun indicated that he cannot expect the expatriate votes to go in any direction, “But I hope that they and all of my compatriots will think carefully about their fate and the future of their children before they vote. They have to put into consideration the repercussions of the past thirty years, in which a political class ruled, and spoils and shares were distributed from under and above the table, without accountability. Does Lebanon bear the renewal of this class after the collapse that took place, and the harsh economic and living conditions that we have reached? This is the basic question that every voter must ask himself before he votes”.
Moreover, the President pointed out that in the last parliamentary elections that took place in 2018, the European Union formed a mission to monitor the elections in Lebanon, and today it also expressed its desire to play this role, and “Of course we welcome this initiative so that all parties in Lebanon, in addition to the international community, are reassured on the electoral process”.
Between Vacancy and Extending Mandate:
President Aoun stressed that he does not see any logical reason to postpone the parliamentary elections. As for the presidential elections, the President stressed that he will work on his part to provide all the conditions for holding it, and if any considerations prevent the elections from taking place, “God forbid, there will be no vacancy because the constitution foresaw such a possibility. The Council of Ministers collectively assumes the powers of the President , and unfortunately, we went through two similar cases in 2007 and 2014, and the existing government at the time assumed responsibility. But I repeat that I will spare no effort until the presidential election is secured on its constitutional date”.
Regarding his statements to Al-Jazeera channel on the issue of the mandate extension, the President explained that he said during the interview that Lebanon witnessed the extension after Taif for two presidents, Elias Hrawi and Emile Lahoud, and that he would not hand over the presidency to vacancy. And the interviewer began to state possibilities, if such and such did not happen and did happen, then what is the last solution.
The President replied “There is only one solution and that is to amend the constitution and extend the president’s mandate. The whole story is that I was presenting all possible possibilities when my term ends. I was not talking about my options and my desires are possibilities and nothing more”.
Economic Crisis:
On the economic crisis in Lebanon and its causes, President Aoun said: "Unfortunately, the political tension in Lebanon has reached a shameful level, with some politicians ignoring their minimum duties towards the people who entrusted them with their fate, the sustenance of their children, and the security of their future. Blocking government work, after Lebanon lived without a government for more than a year during the past two years. How can decisions be taken, plans be made, and the confidence of the Lebanese and the international community be gained, in the absence of a government that lays down rescue plans and seeks to implement them?
“I say to all parties: Stop playing with the lives of the Lebanese people. Rule your consciences and come to a word of solidarity and unity, in which we save our homeland, restore dignity to the people, and build our national economy again on sound foundations” the President said
President Aoun asserted that "There are those who should bear the responsibility for the economic crisis, which is the result of political accumulations that led Lebanon to this situation. We are currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund to obtain long-term loans that enable us to revive the economy and inject spirit into the economic cycle”.
Deposits:
On the fate of people’s deposits in banks, President Aoun indicated that he called from the beginning of the crisis to develop an integrated and clear plan for this issue and legalize it, and to set a practical framework for the Lebanese to recover their deposits from banks. Banks must be restructured to ensure the quality of their work in the future”.
President Aoun explained that there is a proposal for a law related to capital control in the Parliament, expressing his hope that it will be approved because it constitutes a step on the way to solving the deposit problem, stressing the need for the current government to continue its efforts in this direction.
On the reason for the failure to launch the financing card, the President pointed out that the new government decided to re-examine some details related to this card, to issue it on a clearer basis, and it will be issued shortly.
International Monetary Fund:
On the reason for limiting the state’s efforts to address the economic crisis to negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, President Aoun pointed out that when a person is in pain, he first needs a drug to relieve the pain, and then start treatment, explaining that the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund aim to obtain quick temporary support to meet the urgent needs of the Lebanese, “Because any economic plan that will be developed to address the economic and living crisis in Lebanon needs a long time to be implemented, and people whose incomes have fallen horribly, and who are unable to secure bread, medicine and education for their children, cannot wait for the implementation of recovery plans. But this does not mean that we are satisfied with the option of negotiations with the World Bank at this stage, at the same time, the government should work on launching a comprehensive economic plan in conjunction with these negotiations”.
About the possibility of establishing a fund to support Lebanon in which brotherly and friendly countries and wealthy expatriates contribute, the President indicated that there was previously “A French initiative known as the CEDRE, but there was a delay in implementing the commitments by the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, then the protests came and the events continued and successive governments have failed to fulfill their commitments to obtain CEDRE aid, and since 2018, the Lebanese government has not taken a real initiative to implement the steps required to obtain this aid, and thus the French initiative has been frozen”.
President Aoun indicated that the new government has tried, since its formation, to restore the confidence of the international community, start a serious workshop to stop the economic deterioration, and launch the stage of revival, at a time when the country needs a quick rescue, but this does not prevent friendly and brotherly countries from standing by us at this stage, because they can do a lot for the Lebanese people, in terms of living, educational, humanitarian, and other matters.
Port Explosion Investigations:
Regarding the “crisis” in the investigation into the port explosion case, President Aoun considered that it is no doubt a real tragedy for Lebanon, and he has called since the first day of its occurrence that justice must be achieved because people deserve to know what happened and who bears responsibility for the fall of martyrs, wounded and losses.
“Yes, the judiciary needs reform, and since I took office I have worked to encourage the judicial body to reform itself, because I believe first in the principle of separation of powers, and secondly that the judiciary is the basis for any real change to establish the rule of law and institutions, and to change the prevailing concept, and this would lead to putting an end to any attempt by politics to interfere with the work and affairs of the judiciary, so the right reference comes back to adjudicate all citizens’ claims and complaints” President Aoun said.
Moreover, President Aoun stressed that “Justice cannot wait for something or anyone, and therefore no conditions should be set for its application. Despite the importance of political stability, it should not impose itself on achieving justice, rather the opposite is true, and when justice prevails, it is strengthened and stability at political, economic and social levels is strengthened”.
“The investigation must take its course. A few days ago, thanks to Russia, we received satellite images of Beirut port before and after the explosion, and I had asked all countries that possess such images to provide us with them to hand over to the competent judiciary to benefit from them and base their decisions on the information provided by the images”.
The Prerogatives of the Judicial Investigator:
As for the controversies regarding the judicial and Parliament prerogatives, the President of the Republic noted that Parliament can rule on it. “We may find a difference of opinion on this point in parliament, but the majority decides. We must abide by the opinion of the parliamentary majority, whether it approves the right of the judicial investigator in his procedures or decides to limit the powers to try ministers, MPs and officials in the Parliament’s court.”
In a reply to a question, the President excepted a Parliament session to convene to resolve the issue, stressing that this is a way out for the return of the work of the Council of Ministers and state institutions.
Stable Security:
On the fear of security chaos, President Aoun said: "Unfortunately, we suffered in Lebanon from many breaches, but, thank God, we were able to maintain security stability in the darkest and most difficult circumstances, with the recognition of the world. Many expected that Lebanon would suffer from splashes and chaos as a result of the Syrian war, which led to instability in the Middle East as a whole, but we have successfully overcome this matter, and with the spread of the terrorist organization “ISIS” and its threat to a number of countries, and emergence in Lebanon and its attempt to expand, the Lebanese army was able to eliminate it in the battle of “Fajr al- Jouroud” thwarting all attempts to establish their Imara in Lebanon, and spread crimes in the region.
Today, we are still maintaining a stable security situation, regardless of the financial, economic and social difficulties that the people , including members of the military and security agencies are suffering from. We will not, stop supporting these agencies to carry out their duties and reassure citizens and expatriates that Lebanon is a safe country in terms of security."
In response to a question about the reasons for the high crime rate in Lebanon, the President of the Republic considered that "it is natural when the economic and financial crises mount the crime rates rise, especially theft. This is a well-known situation in all countries of the world and not only in Lebanon. But the security services i working day and night to ensure that the situation does not spill, and often uncover crime in record time. We must not forget the impact of the presence of more than one and a half million Syrian refugees on Lebanese soil, thus in light of the crisis in Lebanon some of them are carrying out acts that undermine security, as statistics have proven that the majority of detainees are displaced persons in Lebanon.
On the possibility of Lebanon being drawn into war, President Aoun indicated that the events of Tayouneh constituted a critical sign for Lebanon, but thanks to the intervention of the army and security forces, the situation was control on the ground. We no longer want war and we will not allow it to happen. We have suffered from and witnessed its previous impact, and we have made great efforts to overcome it.”
I slogan "Lebanon is too big to be swallowed and too small to be divided" and I still believe it, and if the war returns, Lebanon will lose its identity and the region as a whole will lose its stability.”
Demarcation of the Southern Maritime Boundary:
On the demarcation of the southern maritime borders. President Aoun indicated that “Lebanon accepted that the United States to sponsor the indirect negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli sides on the demarcation of the maritime borders, and several meetings took place.
According to the general concept of negotiation, each party sets the conditions that suit it, and after that a common ground that satisfies everyone is reached. We have informed the American side of our conditions and are waiting for the Israeli response to know what the next step would be.
We are hoping to obtain our rights, and we are not about to spare our water and oil wealth, which we desperately need, and we consider it an essential element in our exit from our current crisis. We are with the negotiations, but we will not give up our rights until the last drop of our water.”
The President of the Republic pointed out that "there is no doubt that political differences have cast a shadow over the file, just as the presence of Israel (which is an enemy state of Lebanon) on the borders does not make things easier but rather complicates them. The necessary decrees were issued to explore for gas and oil, at a time when these wealth had been lying in the depths of Lebanese waters for years, waiting to be discovered.
Yesterday, Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad set the deadline for launching the second licensing round to explore oil and gas wealth in our regional waters, which is a very important matter and indicates that we do not stand idly by. Minister Fayyad discussed the matter in Qatar to benefit from their experience, as he was among the accompanying ministerial delegation.
Radical solutions:
On the nature of the solution to the Lebanese crisis, President Aoun said: "I am convinced that Lebanon has reached a historical crossroad today in its existence, and it is not possible to build on what happened in the past and expect to obtain different results." He stressed that "Lebanon needs new mentalities in governance, and the most important thing is to produce a new political system that abolishes political sectarianism and establishes civil rule, because political sectarianism was and still is Lebanon's main source of weakness."
The president stressed that "real solutions can only be radical this time, otherwise we will continue to revolve in a vicious circle of conflicts, quarrels, and economic collapse. When I talk about a radical solution it starts with the polls to produce a new political class, and then launch a comprehensive national dialogue, re-emphasizing Lebanon’s position and its message, and drawing a road map for the future.”
The Return of Government Work:
In response to a question, President Aoun stressed that the important thing at present is the return of the government activity to stand by the Lebanese who have turned into a segment of the poor and needy in a record period.”
He said “Any initiative will not succeed if the Lebanese do not come together to save their country. To this day, some are showing a willingness to burn an entire forest to light their cigarettes. I tell everyone now, everyone will pay the price, and no one will be immune from the repercussions of this collapse. I say to the Lebanese before reaching the polls: Hold accountable those who offended the country and erred against it and yours first, before you hold others accountable.”
Solution from Abroad:
The President of the Republic considered that the solution in Lebanon is no longer within Lebanon, as the political quarrels that occur impede radical solutions, but they do not affect the economic and financial solutions, as they are going on a different path because it is subject to negotiations with the World Bank and IMF. As for political differences, they are the responsibility of the Lebanese, who have to go to dialogue to settle differences.
On a new constitution or Taif or second Doha agreement, the President said: “We are not in a battle waiting to be resolved to decide the results. We have a parliament that is able to put forward bills and the required amendments, and they can be approved in accordance with parliamentary principles, but currently the issue has not been raised seriously. Perhaps there are some people deliberating on this issue away from the press and media."
Prerogatives the President of the Republic:
Regarding the popular movement that was holding the presidency of the republic responsible, the President of the Republic indicated that “it is natural that the common people are not as familiar with the texts of the constitution and laws as the specialists.”
He pointed out that “many people have not studied the laws and the general impression or mental image of the common people that the one responsible for what happens is the president without checking if that falls within his responsibility, and that is why we used to hear in the street the covenant (meaning the presidency) as if the covenant had all the powers to rule. While the reality is that the executive power is in the hands of the government and the legislative power is in the hands of the Parliament, while the judiciary is in the hands of the judiciary. Therefore, the functioning of government systems is subject to the separation of powers.
This can be seen in the case of investigations into the port explosion case. For example, from my position as President of the Republic, I do not interfere in the investigation and the work of the judiciary. Because the judiciary is an independent authority, and it is my duty to preserve the independence of the judiciary.
In response to a question, President Aoun explained that according to the constitution, the powers of the prime minister are broad and he is responsible for the executive branch in the state, while the president is responsible for implementing the constitution and laws. This is why when I notice anything controversial I send to the Constitutional Council for consideration. The constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister form the government. While the President of the Republic concludes foreign treaties. There is no abuse or prejudice to the powers of the Prime Minister as the accusations that I am trying to make the government presidential and this is contrary to the truth.
Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon:
On some saying that the power of the Governor of the Central Bank is stronger than all the powers, President Aoun said: “The work of the Governor is independent and his responsibility is to preserve public money. There were major mistakes and was subjected to pressure from the government and Parliament to obtain loans. A complex problem, and therefore we decided to open a forensic audit that determines the mistakes and responsibilities in wasting or diversion of funds. This is the first investigation of its kind in the history of the Lebanese Republic. For the first time, the accounts of the Central Bank have audited."
He added, “I worked for a year and a half to conclude the contract, the investigation has started and everyone who made mistakes will be held accountable, even if they are senior officials, and no one will be excluded."
Hezbollah:
In response to a question about Hezbollah becoming a major obstacle in the relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states, the President of the Republic said: "In reality, the situation in Lebanon needs internal stability. Everything that is required of Hezbollah is committed. It did not overpass the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was approved when Qatar was heading the Security Council, and the commitment to this resolution was full. On the internal level , security stability is the basis. As for the protests that Lebanon witnessed , they are a natural movement that takes place in all countries of the world. The protests are in the face of hunger, and I am ready to protest with them.”
On how Lebanon can exit the crisis. the President said: “Lebanon is not outside the region, it is affected by everything that is happening in the region and in the Arab countries. External pressures are exerted on all parties in Lebanon. This matter is not only on Lebanon, but most of the countries in the region are subjected to external pressures. Where everyone follows the struggle for spheres of influence between the major powers, as well as negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file.”
Pride for all Arabs:
President Aoun stressed that the "Arab Cup" is a major Arab event hosted by Qatar. Great efforts were made to provide all the necessities for the success of this great Arab event. Sport is what brings people together. Sports are in line with Qatar's policy of convergence and dialogue. His Highness the Emir had a great role in the success of the Arab Cup in preparation for the World Cup in Qatar, which is considered the largest international sporting event hosting in an Arab capital. This is the pride of the Arabs.”