Ambassador El-Khoury: ‘A stable Syria will benefit Lebanon’
Lebanon’s new ambassador to the Holy See speaks to Vatican News about the recent election of Joseph Aoun as president of Lebanon.
By Olivier Bonnel and Lisa Zengarini
The recent election of internationally-backed army chief Joseph Aoun as Lebanon’s new president, along with the recent regime change in neighboring Syria, constitutes a major step forward and could lead to further positive developments for Lebanon .
This was declared by Lebanon’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Ghady El-Khoury.
Speaking to Olivier Bonnel of Vatican News, after Pope Francis’ annual state of the world address to the diplomatic corps on January 9, the Lebanese diplomat expressed optimism about Lebanon’s recovery and gratitude for the continued support of the Pope Francis and the Holy See to the country. Cedars.
General Aoun, a Maronite Catholic, as required by the country’s confessional power-sharing system, was elected by the Lebanese Parliament on January 9, ending 26 months of institutional impasse and presidential vacuum, in a context economic and social collapse and a fragile 60-day ceasefire. between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is set to expire on January 26.
His election follows intense efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United States, which rallied support for Aoun, who is close to Washington and Riyadh.
A new stage for Lebanon
Until last week, negotiations over the successor to former President Michel Aoun were stalled due to continued divisions between the country’s factions.
However, the all-out war in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, triggered by the war between Israel and Hamas, has shifted the balance of power in the country, making Aoun’s appointment possible. Without this war and its consequences, such progress would not have taken place in its current form.
At the heart of this development is the 61-year-old President’s inauguration speech on January 9, which outlined critical points that will shape Lebanon’s future political path, marking a “new phase for the country,” and highlighted the immense challenges he faces, both domestic and domestic. external.
Among these key points are the consolidation of arms under state control, limiting responsibility for the confrontation with Israel to the Lebanese army and imposing control over Palestinian refugee camps where up to now Lebanese soldiers have not been allowed to enter.
Contacts with the new regime in Syria
These key points reflect a profound shift in Lebanese politics, which also includes the establishment of new relations with neighboring Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by a large rebel offensive on December 8, 2024.
One of the newly elected president’s first moves was to send Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to Damascus to meet with new Syrian strongman Ahmed al-Sharaa on January 11 in a bid to improve long-strained relations. date, with both men focusing on strengthening their shared border. It was the first visit by a Lebanese prime minister to neighboring Syria in 15 years.
Feeling of relief in Lebanon
The appointment of General Aoun was greeted with broad relief by the Lebanese people and the Christian community, notably by the head of the Maronite Church, Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï, who met Aoun on Friday January 10 and welcomed his inaugural speech as “the road map for the salvation of Lebanon.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who has just completed a visit to Jordan, also expressed to Vatican News his hope that these elections will mark a new phase for Lebanon, where all political forces come together to find common ground. understanding and working for the good of Lebanon. the country, especially for the reforms that the country so urgently needs.
The right person at the right time
Ambassador El-Khoury, who was charge d’affaires at his country’s embassy in Paris for eleven years and director of political and consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut before his appointment in Rome, shares this positive attitude by portraying Aoun as the right person in the right place at the right time.
“He enjoys the greatest confidence of the Lebanese and inspires the most confidence in stability,” he explained.
According to the Lebanese diplomat, Vatican diplomacy, which worked tirelessly to fill the presidential vacuum, contributed significantly to breaking the institutional impasse. “We must be grateful for this,” he said, emphasizing the constant concern of the Holy See and Pope Francis for Lebanon.
Promoting peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon
Ambassador El Koury stressed that this positive result is important for all Christians in the Middle East, but also for Muslims in Lebanon, recalling that the unique value of the country lies in its religious and cultural diversity and in its harmonious coexistence.
Stability and peace in Syria are essential to Lebanon’s recovery
Referring to the recent regime change in Syria, El-Khoury also expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a democratic and stable Syria, stressing that such stability is crucial for Lebanon, given historical, political and economic ties. deep between the two nations.
A peaceful Syria would contribute positively to Lebanon’s recovery. “A stable Syria can only have a positive impact on Lebanon,” he argued, allowing both countries to shift their attention from the conflict to their serious socio-economic challenges, including a serious humanitarian crisis.
Major challenges
Addressing Lebanon’s internal challenges, El-Khoury presented a comprehensive national recovery program. Stability in southern regions, resolving border conflicts with Israel and launching reconstruction projects in war-torn areas, such as Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, are among the immediate priorities. At the same time, he stressed the importance of economic reforms, strengthening internal security and modernizing the Lebanese armed forces, as demanded by the international community.
The ambassador acknowledged the enormity of these tasks, given the country’s years of stagnation, political instability and financial mismanagement, but stressed the need to confront them simultaneously to rebuild Lebanon’s future.