President General Joseph Aoun affirmed that the choice to pursue negotiations is a sound one, and Lebanon took this path as a result of the war. President Aoun stressed that negotiation is safer than war and is neither a surrender nor a concession, though it will not solve the problem in a matter of moments; rather, it is a process that requires time, and it is the only solution to stop the war with the least possible damage. President Aoun said: "I will continue to do what I came here for. I came to save our country and not for positions and posts, which are in any case not privileges. I do not want anything for myself; what I want is to save our homeland for our children and our grandchildren." President Aoun's remarks came during his reception of a delegation from the Lebanese Private Sector Network headed by Ms. Rima Freiji, who delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting in which she said: "We thank His Excellency President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, for receiving the Lebanese Private Sector Network today. Our visit comes as Lebanon is experiencing an exceptional historical juncture—war, aggression, occupation, and displacement. Conversely, peace negotiations and diplomatic momentum are accelerating, and Lebanon stands before a real opportunity to transition from 'Lebanon the arena' to 'Lebanon the state'." We believe that restricting arms to the state and asserting its full sovereignty over every inch of Lebanese territory are not choices—but existential conditions, as enshrined in the constitution whose centenary we celebrate today." She added: "We support your choice of direct negotiations to achieve peace and stability out of a firm conviction that the economy is at the core of political choices and that political stability is the natural and only gateway to recovery, reconstruction, and restoring confidence in Lebanon." She concluded by saying: "In this framework, we place the network's full capabilities and expertise at the disposal of His Excellency the President and the Lebanese state, and we renew our full commitment to accompanying this legitimate, reformist, sovereign path, pledging to be an active partner in building the state of institutions. The Lebanon to which we all aspire is the Lebanon of sovereignty, stability, and prosperity." President Aoun Welcoming the delegation, President Aoun affirmed that the backbone of the Lebanese economy is the private sector, pointing out that the Lebanese person is inherently creative and innovative and has been able through resilience to defy the difficult circumstances Lebanon has gone through and to turn these circumstances and crises into opportunities. He noted that the Lebanese economy recorded a qualitative leap last year, and we had expected this trajectory to continue, but unfortunately a war was imposed upon us that we do not want." President Aoun said: "We believe in you because you believe in this country, and we must provide the Lebanese with political and security stability, because any economic recovery is linked to security, in addition of course to the measures the government has begun taking regarding economic reform and combating corruption." On the other hand, President Aoun considered that "the choice to go to negotiations is a sound choice, given that we have no third choice before us other than going to war or to negotiations. Lebanon made this choice as a result of the war; negotiations are conducted with your opponent or your enemy. Wars usually end in two ways: either there is a loser or a winner, or through negotiations. This is what has happened and is happening in many countries around the world, such as Iran and America currently, which have gone to negotiations." He continued: "Negotiations are safer than war, as we have seen and continue to see the horrors of war and its results, yet they will not solve the problem in a moment, but rather are a process that needs time, and we have no other choice. Unfortunately, some consider negotiation to be surrender, but it is not so, nor is it a concession, but rather a solution to stop wars with the least possible damage." The President of the Republic pointed out that we will not retreat from our choice, and all of us in Lebanon as officials are doing the impossible. Negotiations may encounter obstacles or be delayed in achieving our desired goal, but they are moving forward. All matters are resolved through negotiation no matter how long it takes, and war will not yield a result for any of its parties. Responding to a question about the process of restricting arms in the south by the Lebanese Army, President Aoun affirmed that the army has not declared that the southern region has become disarmed and free of weapons, pointing out that according to the military concept, there is now operational control over the region by the army. Clearing the south of weapons takes time given the geographical nature of this land, which is rich in mountains and valleys. The army has performed its duties in this regard, and the proof of this is that the rockets launched at the beginning of the war were from the area north of the Litani. We must also clarify that the Israelis for their part did not help implement the ceasefire agreement, under which Israel was required to evacuate the five points it occupied, yet it continued its military operations and bombardment of villages under the pretext of self-defense." The President of the Republic continued: "I will continue to do what I came for. What I want is to save our homeland for our children and our grandchildren. We grew up in war, and I do not want them to grow up and suffer what we suffered. The Lebanese who contributes to building the countries of the world is capable of rebuilding his own homeland." Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce On the economic front as well, the President of the Republic received the Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Mr. John Danton, in the presence of the President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Lebanon, former Minister Mohammad Choucair, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce and the President of the International Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon, Mr. Wajih Bizri. During the meeting, Mr. Danton presented the role of the International Chamber of Commerce as the largest organization representing the private sector globally, noting that the Chamber contributes to supporting and facilitating global trade and economic activity, works to promote trade and investment, develops arbitration rules and commercial dispute resolution, and supports business environments around the world. Danton affirmed the ICC's solidarity with Lebanon at this delicate stage, stressing the importance of supporting the Lebanese economy and the Lebanese private sector, which has demonstrated great resilience and persistence despite the challenges. He also noted that his presence in Lebanon carries a clear message to the global business community that the Lebanese private sector remains active, capable of operating and producing. The discussion touched upon the programs and initiatives the Chamber is working on in Lebanon, including entrepreneurship support programs in cooperation with the United Nations, in addition to the "Trade Routes" project that the Chamber seeks to launch in Lebanon with the aim of enhancing trade and investment opportunities and connecting Lebanese companies with international markets. Danton also expressed the Chamber's interest in supporting Lebanon's position in international tourism-related initiatives, noting work to establish a global tourism platform of which Lebanon could be an essential part, contributing to re-highlighting its image as a distinguished economic, touristic, and cultural destination. He considered that Lebanon possesses promising opportunities in the coming phase, particularly in light of its potential role in reconstruction efforts in the region, affirming the ICC's readiness to provide support and backing in areas of trade facilitation, enhancing communication with the global business community, and mobilizing international support for Lebanon. Danton also briefed President Aoun on the efforts exerted by the Chamber in cooperation with its international partners to maintain the flow of global trade and supply chains, including work on mechanisms to ensure the continued movement of certain essential goods if international trade routes are affected by regional developments. For his part, the President of the Republic welcomed Danton's visit, appreciating the role played by the International Chamber of Commerce in supporting trade and investment and enhancing economic cooperation between countries, affirming that the Lebanese private sector has always formed the backbone of the national economy and played an essential role in maintaining the continuity of economic activity during the most difficult circumstances Lebanon has gone through. He stressed that the Lebanese state is working to restore confidence, enhance stability, and launch the path of necessary reforms that form the primary gateway to stimulating investment and creating jobs. President Aoun pointed out that Lebanon possesses outstanding human capital, a strategic location, and extensive expertise in the fields of trade, services, and the knowledge economy, qualifying it to play a pivotal economic role in the region once appropriate conditions are provided. He also stressed the importance of continued international support for Lebanon and assistance in conveying the true picture of the challenges and burdens it faces, especially in light of the heavy economic and humanitarian damages it has incurred over the past period, emphasizing that economic recovery requires a genuine partnership between the state, the private sector, and the international community. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to continue communication and coordination between the two sides and explore potential areas of cooperation to serve the Lebanese economy and enhance its openness. MP Melhem Riachy President Aoun received MP Melhem Riachy, an envoy from the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Dr. Samir Geagea, who conveyed to him the Lebanese Forces' support for the President's choice of direct negotiations to halt the military escalation and end the suffering of the Lebanese. MP Abdissaad President Aoun received MP Edib Abdissaad and discussed with him the latest developments on the local scene. After the meeting, MP Abdissaad made the following statement: "I visited the President of the Republic to express a longstanding yet renewed support for the negotiating track adopted by the Lebanese state as a shield to protect Lebanon, citizens, and Lebanese territory, and to halt the ceasefire which is very necessary and more urgent than ever before." He added: "We are passing through a very sensitive phase, and it is necessary to rally constantly, present and future, around the Lebanese state represented by His Excellency the President, who is making a colossal effort toward negotiation and utilizing his very good international relations that can be the lifeline to get us out of the predicament we are in. I affirmed to His Excellency our absolute support for the negotiating track, which we know has no alternative. We were not able to prevail through the logic of arms nor through unilateralism. Therefore, it is very vital at this stage to embrace the state and the presidency, because this is our sole salvation." He said: "I also discussed with His Excellency the President a matter concerning the Koura district related to cement companies and the environmental reality, and I explained our environmental perspective and the problems facing the Koura environment as a result of the quarrying of mountains or valleys. I briefed His Excellency that the environmental logic we are defending in this file is not against industry or companies, but against their practices toward our environment. The government has taken a very strict decision on environmental issues, but our main problem is in implementation: How will the Council of Ministers' decision to re-grant licenses to cement companies be implemented? And how will we ensure that these companies do not commit environmental violations in the future as they have done for decades? I wanted to brief His Excellency on this matter and take his opinion to act accordingly hereafter." Responding to a question, he stressed that "if there is no rallying around the President of the Republic, the Lebanese state, and the Lebanese administration regarding the negotiating logic—given that it alone exclusively holds the right to the decision of war and peace—we will remain in a runaway situation, and Israel will continue with its destructive machine and we will not know where things are heading."