President of Lebanon Says Negotiations Must Ensure "Israel Ends Occupation of Lebanon"

Xinhua News Agency, Beirut, June 23 (Reporter Cao Changhao) Lebanese President Aoun stated on the 23rd that the Lebanese government will not accept any negotiation results that fall short of "Israel ending its occupation of Lebanese territory and Lebanon restoring full territorial sovereignty."

According to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidential office, Aoun listened to a report on the Lebanese delegation's participation in the fifth round of trilateral talks in Washington between Lebanon, the U.S., and Israel, and subsequently made the above statement.

Aoun expressed that recent developments prove that resolving issues through negotiation is the correct choice for achieving Lebanon's national goals and maintaining national sovereignty. He hopes that negotiations can make decisive progress on issues such as restoring Lebanon's national sovereignty and ending Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.

On the same day, Aoun also spoke on the phone with U.S. Vice President Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, discussing the latest developments in the situation in Lebanon and the phased progress of U.S.-Iran-Swiss negotiations.

Vance and Rubio stated that the U.S. supports the Lebanese government's position in advancing the comprehensive coverage of national legitimate authority and strengthening the country's control over full territorial sovereignty. Aoun thanked the U.S. for its attention to efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon and strengthen the country's authority.