Lebanese President Aoun States Negotiations with Israel Focus on Ceasefire, Prisoner Release, and Border Demarcation
Beirut – May 12, 2025 – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed Friday that ongoing negotiations with Israel are centered on achieving a cessation of hostilities, securing the release of Lebanese prisoners, establishing a plan for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and resolving disputed points along the Blue Line demarcation. The statement comes as a delegation representing members of the UN Security Council met with President Aoun in Beirut.
According to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun emphasized LebanonS conviction that “wars cannot lead to positive results” and that negotiation is the sole path “to provide climates that lead to stability and security, find solutions to outstanding issues, and keep suffering away from Lebanese citizens.” He clarified that Lebanon‘s engagement in negotiations through the Military Technical Committee is driven by national interest,not external pressure.
Aoun expressed hope for positive outcomes from the talks, but stressed their success hinges on the approach taken by Israel. “The success of these negotiations is fundamentally linked to the position of the Israeli occupation,” he stated, adding that israel’s stance will determine whether the discussions yield practical results.
The Security Council delegation was lead by Slovenian Ambassador Samuel szbogar and included representatives from Algeria, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, the Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Britain, and the United States. Also present were experts from the Security Council and UN Secretariat, Resident Coordinator and UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Imran Riza, and UNIFIL Commander-in-Chief Major General Deodato Abanyara.
The negotiations are being conducted through the Military Technical committee, established under the ceasefire agreement that came into effect between Lebanon and Israel in November 2024.
