Ambassador Issa: This Is Why the Meeting Was Moved to Rome, Trump Is Interested in Lebanon
President Joseph Aoun received US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and discussed with him President Aoun’s upcoming official visit to the United States at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, in addition to the current situation in Lebanon and the region.
During the meeting, President Aoun stressed the need to consolidate the ceasefire in the south, pressure Israel to halt military operations, and adhere to the terms of the framework formula announced at the end of the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington. He also stressed the need to stop the bombardment, demolition operations, and bulldozing carried out by Israeli forces in several occupied towns and villages.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Issa said that “the Lebanese president’s visit to Washington carries particular importance at this specific time and reflects President Trump’s level of interest in Lebanon, his efforts to achieve security and stability in the country, and to end the suffering of its people.”
Regarding the upcoming meeting in Rome on July 14 and 15, Ambassador Issa explained that moving the meeting between Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations to the Italian capital was due solely to technical reasons related to facilitating the travel of ambassadors and delegation members. He added that the Rome meeting is organizational and executive in nature, aimed at implementing what was included in the framework formula, particularly the formation of specialized working groups tasked with carrying out the arrangements agreed upon in Washington, which may require legal or technical experts depending on the issues discussed.
Ambassador Issa stressed that what will take place in Rome is a continuation of what was agreed upon in Washington, noting that several meetings will be held in the Italian capital or elsewhere to follow up on implementation according to the stages that will be agreed upon.
Regarding the start date for work in the pilot areas identified during the Washington negotiations, Ambassador Issa said preparations are underway to implement what was agreed upon regarding these areas. He added that a US military delegation will arrive in Beirut within days to coordinate and determine the mechanism for implementation on the ground, stressing the need to avoid any vacuum following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the designated area. The start date for implementation will be determined based on the outcome of coordination meetings.
