Aoun: No fear of civil war or strife in Lebanon

SadaNews - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed on Sunday that "there is no fear of civil war or internal strife because our people are aware," noting that negotiation is not a concession.

The National News Agency quoted Aoun as saying, in a statement from Bkirki after a meeting with Patriarch Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi before attending Easter Mass: "No one wants strife because the Lebanese are tired of wars. Some have said about negotiation, what will we gain from negotiating? And I say, what did we gain from your war?"

He added that "negotiation is not a concession and diplomacy is not surrender; our communications are ongoing to stop the killing and destruction."

He pointed out that "for years we have been waiting for the resurrection of Lebanon, and amidst destruction and displacement, our concern is to maintain civil peace, which is a red line, and anyone trying to undermine it is doing a service to Israel."

He added, "Gaza has been destroyed, and more than 70,000 victims have fallen; then they sat to negotiate (...) why don’t we sit at the negotiating table and stop the tragedies," emphasizing the continuation of "communications until we can save what remains of homes that have not yet been destroyed."

Earlier, the Lebanese President renewed his call for negotiations with Israel so that "Southern Lebanon does not become like Gaza," while Israel continues its air strikes and land attacks, destroying villages in Southern Lebanon.

He said: "It is true that Israel perhaps wants to make Southern Lebanon like Gaza, but it is our duty not to drag it to that."