President General Joseph Aoun affirmed, in the second part of the interview conducted with him by CNN’s senior international anchor Christiane Amanpour at the Baabda Palace last Friday, his readiness to continue negotiations with Israel under American sponsorship, because he has no other choice, "and I am trying to take advantage of President Trump’s personal desire to end this conflict. We are counting on him and his team to make a breakthrough, and we did that over the past two days and it was tough negotiations through which we were able to achieve a major breakthrough, which is the ceasefire in exchange for Hezbollah's withdrawal from south of the Litani." He explained that at the present time, work is underway on a non-aggression pact, a security agreement, or something else. "As for the peace agreement, we are part of the Arab Initiative that was launched in 2002 and we are committed to it," he said, adding that one cannot move from the first point to the last point directly, but rather must go through numerous steps, and the intermediate step is ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel. While clarifying that negotiations are restricted to the President of the Republic in accordance with the Constitution and Article 52 thereof, he stressed "that I am conducting them in close consultation with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament," affirming "we are united in order to end the war." Regarding his message to the Lebanese, he said: I know that you are tired and that you believe in this country and deserve to live in safety, stability and security, and you deserve to live in a country free of war, prosperous, free of corruption, and this is my duty and I am committed to it. Part Two of the Interview Below are President Aoun’s remarks in the second part of the interview: President Aoun answered a question about Israel’s failure to achieve its goals in light of Hezbollah changing its military confrontation strategy, and about his readiness to continue negotiations under American sponsorship, saying that he has no other choice, and is trying to take advantage of US President Donald Trump’s personal interest in ending this conflict, whom he is counting on and his team to make a breakthrough, which happened at the beginning of this month after tough negotiations that led to a ceasefire in exchange for Hezbollah's withdrawal from south of the Litani, and the attempt must continue to find a settlement to this problem by all available means, or end the conflict. The matter is in the interest of both parties. President Aoun stressed that what is currently on the table is a non-aggression agreement, a security agreement, or something else; the need is to end the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever, and this may be a prelude to a just and comprehensive peace. He said that Lebanon is part of the Arab Peace Initiative that was launched in 2002 and is committed to it, but one cannot move from the first point to the last point directly, rather one must go through numerous steps, and the intermediate step is ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel. He said that he cannot meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the present time, "and regarding the manner in which Hezbollah hand over its weapons in light of its desire to continue fighting, President Aoun considered that Hezbollah was born as a reaction to the 1982 Israeli invasion, and the war should have ended in 2000 after the weapons fulfilled their purpose at the time through liberating the country, but after the year 2000, Hezbollah fell into major strategic errors. He said that his strategy is basically based on removing the root causes for the existence of these weapons, by ending the state of conflict and strengthening state institutions—the security agencies, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and other government institutions—and speaking reasonably with Hezbollah and presenting options to it that the state is ready to protect the country and everyone. He stressed that Hezbollah's supporters are Lebanese and have the right to live with dignity, but under the state's protection. In the event that they do not agree to hand over their weapons or negotiate with the government, they will bear the responsibility before their people, who will distance themselves from them. Regarding the fear of an internal military confrontation with Hezbollah, President Aoun pointed to the existence of a military concept based on "preparing the battlefield," which does not mean that tanks and artillery must be deployed, but rather preparing the conditions and removing the root causes for the existence of weapons, and then we can move forward. This strategy is based on numerous efforts, in which combat operations constitute only 10 percent, while the rest is related to social, political, and economic matters. He recalled that in 1975, after the collapse of the Lebanese army institution, government institutions fragmented and local militias—Christian and Islamic—emerged, and people had to resort to them seeking safety, security, food, and basic needs, but now the time has come for the government to be the alternative to these militias. He called for working on strengthening government institutions, whether security and military agencies or others, and on removing the root causes for the existence of weapons, otherwise the matter will be disastrous and the goals will not be achieved. Regarding his vision of the extent of Iran and Hezbollah's strength after the recent war, the President of the Republic considered that their strength cannot be measured through their capabilities alone, but rather through their presence, so even if a single person remains, this is an important matter for them. There are many examples throughout history showing that conventional forces that engaged in asymmetric wars were unable to achieve their goals, but rather were costly wars of attrition. The issue is not only about capabilities, but existence, doctrine, and will that make their work "sacred." He pointed out that the Iranians are famous for weaving carpets, which is a matter that takes a long time, and this is reflected in their diplomacy and strategy. Regarding his long military life and what he carried with him, he explained that he served in the army for 42 years and for eight years as commander of the military institution, and that he was wounded twice and there are still shrapnel in his body, and he suffered the horrors of war, which is why he preferred negotiations over wars because he does not want his children and the Lebanese to live through the same hardship he lived. Regarding his presidential powers and role, he said that he swore to protect the country and preserve the territorial integrity, and his duty is to work closely with the Prime Ministers and Parliament Speakers, and said: We work in harmony and coordinate in the finest details on the problems and matters we are working on, but negotiations are restricted to the President in accordance with the Constitution and Article 52, but I am conducting them in close consultation with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament," stressing that they are united in order to end the war. Regarding Speaker Berri's ability to convince Hezbollah, President Aoun considered that Speaker Berri has spent 40 years trying to build the South, and he is a statesman and wants to end the war by peaceful means, and in his capacity as Speaker of Parliament and the sole representative of the Shias in this position, there is work he is doing and one must realize the sensitivity of this matter. He can play an essential role, and this is what he is actually doing, but one must be careful not to enter into a military confrontation with Hezbollah, and regarding the delicate situation within the Shia community, and he is trying to convince them to hand over their weapons for the sake of the Shias and the country. Regarding calls for federalism and partition, President Aoun stressed that the state's duty is to unite the country; this is the history of Lebanon and neither history nor Lebanon can be changed. In response to a question about the message he wishes to convey to the Israelis watching the program, the President of the Republic asked: Do you really want to live in an endless war? Have you not grown tired of the war since 1948? Do you really want to live in peace? Let us sit and talk. He addressed the Israeli government saying that it is time for the power of logic to prevail over the logic of force; military solutions will not provide you with safety and security for the residents of the North. You must show some commitment and desire to end the war for the sake of the peoples on both sides of the border. "We are ready, committed, and willing, so are you? If you are, let us sit and talk, and if you are not willing, we will not live in safety and security." In response to a question about his message to the Iranians, he said: We seek a good relationship with Iran based on mutual respect and non-interference, but remember that Lebanon is a sovereign country with a sovereign government, and if you want to talk to us, you are welcome, but without interference. Your interests may not align with our interests; the people of Lebanon are paying the price, being killed, and their homes are being destroyed to serve your interests and not the country's. It is time to realize this reality; you have no right to interfere in our internal affairs. Other countries are trying to help us, but you are not doing that; rather, you are trying to destroy the country for your interests. To the Lebanese, President Aoun affirmed that he realizes how tired they are and their belief in this country, and their right to live in safety, stability, and security in a country free of war, prosperous, and free of corruption, and that he is committed to achieving that, affirming his confidence in them and in the persistence, determination, and creativity of the Lebanese people to make Lebanon great again. As for the possibility of President Trump providing assistance in achieving this, President Aoun considered that the US President is committed and his calls and personal interventions are evidence of his desire to end this situation because he is interested in the stability of the region and knows that Lebanon's stability is very important for the stability of the region, and we must see how matters will develop and what agreement will be reached between America and Iran, which will affect the region whether negatively or positively. Its stability was affected by the American-Israeli war and Iran, hoping that the war will end very soon because its repercussions will affect the region from a security standpoint. He believed that what President Trump did requires courage and wisdom to end the war through negotiations, and this is what he is currently doing, and relying on him to end this conflict at the earliest opportunity so that the whole region may enjoy stability and security. While affirming that he is working on a ceasefire with Israel, he answered a question about model areas, revealing that this matter was raised during Christmas when the Lebanese presence was enhanced in the meetings taking place in Naqoura by adding a civilian, Ambassador Simon Karam. The proposal is based on handing over an area to the Lebanese Army, which works to control it, to be as an experimental area after which it moves to another area, and work is done to rebuild it. He pointed out that he personally suggested starting with the Beaufort Castle area because it is historical and very close to one of the largest areas containing a Shia majority, namely Nabatieh, so the Israelis would withdraw from it, provided that the Lebanese Army is deployed in it and controls it, on the condition that a ceasefire is secured because Lebanese soldiers cannot be sent while fighting continues, which threatens their lives. President Aoun had stressed in the first part of the interview broadcast last Friday evening that the only way to end the conflict between Lebanon and Israel is through negotiations, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Israelis, and Hezbollah must understand that they are waging a futile war, and that the strategy they are pursuing is short-sighted and leads to counterproductive results. He stressed that Hezbollah can only be dealt with locally, and this is the duty of the state and the government, but on one single condition, which is the removal of the root causes for the existence of its weapons—namely the Israeli withdrawal and ending the state of conflict with it. President Aoun announced that he completely rejects the statement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which has significant influence over Hezbollah, regarding non-approval of the agreement and what happened, pointing out that they are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the United States of America. President Aoun pointed to the desire to live in peace, and that the Lebanese "deserve not to see their homes destroyed every 5 or 10 years. They are tired and they are relying on me, and it is my duty toward my people. They are the Lebanese people, not Naim Qassem's people."