German foreign minister on Syria visit reopens Damascus embassy

BEIRUT: Lebanon is committed to regaining the confidence of Arab countries and the world through reforms, President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a meeting of Lebanese businessmen based in Saudi Arabia.

The president thanked the Kingdom for embracing expatriates and their families.

Addressing the delegation of the Lebanese Executives Council in the Kingdom, Aoun said: “It is unacceptable to cover the repercussions of financial and economic mismanagement using depositors’ funds, which have been frozen in Lebanese banks since 2019.”

The issue requires a solution in cooperation with economic bodies, banks, the central bank, depositors and the state as soon as possible, Aoun said.

“Boosting the economic cycle and investment flow requires a trustworthy banking sector,” he added.

“This was a commitment in the oath speech and is at the core of the government’s work, and we look forward to helping the parliament by accelerating the process of issuing the necessary laws.”

The Lebanese president on Wednesday had informed German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock that Israel’s occupation of areas in the south of the country hindered the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 and contradicted the agreement reached last November.

His remarks came during the German official’s visit to Beirut.

Baerbock was then to head to Damascus on Thursday to reopen the German Embassy in Syria.

Aoun said that the Lebanese army, which has been deployed in all areas vacated by Israeli forces, was carrying out its duty to enforce security and seize weapons.

He told the German minister that Israel had rejected all Lebanese proposals to evacuate the five hills it still occupies and replace its forces with international troops.

Diplomatic efforts and negotiations are continuing in a bid to find a solution to the issue, the president said.

Aoun also told Baerbock that Israel continues to hold several Lebanese prisoners and had only released five nationals, an issue that the government is “determined” to resolve.

Also on Thursday, Hezbollah reacted to Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji’s statements a day earlier, accusing the party of “reneging on the ceasefire agreement between it and Israel, despite the agreement being clear on which groups are allowed to bear arms.”

During a meeting with the Maronite League, Rajji highlighted “diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli occupation,” and said that “Lebanon’s goal is to return to the 1949 Armistice Agreement, and the only solution is international pressure, particularly from the US.

“The conditions are clear: The full implementation of Resolution 1701 and the cessation of military operations. These are tough conditions caused by the party that entered the war and delayed acknowledging the necessity of a ceasefire,” he added.

However, Rajji said that Lebanon “will not accept any direct political negotiations with Israel.”

In response, Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi said on Thursday that the foreign minister’s remarks harmed national interests and distorted facts, “ultimately providing Israel with additional justifications for its aggression.”

Al-Moussawi added that Hezbollah remained committed to “what the Lebanese government agreed upon through UN Resolution 1701.”

He said the foreign minister should have condemned Israel’s crimes and highlighted them to the international community, instead of directing accusations at Hezbollah.

Al-Moussawi urged the government to correct the “irresponsible statements” made by Rajji.

Similarly, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem accused the foreign minister of “providing Israel with an excuse to continue its aggression, a stance that is inappropriate for any Lebanese government official.

“We have adhered to the agreement while Israel continues to violate it,” he added.
 

ANKARA: Following the decision to detain Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality officials and other suspects within the scope of a series of investigations conducted by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, we note that some parties, especially leaders of the main opposition party, are making efforts to undermine the integrity of the investigations with political and ideological motives.

Among the political and ideological assessments made without familiarity with the content and details of the investigations that have begun, we are also witnessing irrational slanders against our president.

We will continue to stand firmly against such endeavors aimed at undermining the independence of our judiciary, which exercises its authority on behalf of the Turkish nation, as well as putting our president under suspicion, and will continue to protect the rights of our president against these ideological slander campaigns.

We emphasize our belief that all decisions of an impartial judiciary should be respected by all groups, and we would like to state that we will continue our fight against disinformation as the Communication Directorate in this process.

We ask our valued citizens to support this fight by dealing cautiously with unconfirmed and suspicious content and, as always, please rely on the statements of official institutions and authorities.

• Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Altun is Head of the Communications Directorate of the Republic of Turkiye.