Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel met with Australian Ambassador to Lebanon Andrew Barnes at his office in Bikfaya, with talks focusing on key developments in the country, including the recent ceasefire and the looming presidential election.

During the meeting, Gemayel underscored the importance of the ceasefire as a critical step and a genuine gateway to restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty, calling for the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the southern region to secure the borders. He stressed that this should occur in parallel with efforts to reactivate state institutions, revitalize democratic practices, and uphold the constitution in upcoming milestones, foremost among them is the election of a new president.

Gemayel also voiced his firm opposition to Lebanon being used as a pawn in regional power struggles or foreign agendas, asserting that Lebanon must not be held hostage or serve as a party in an axis driven by external interests. He highlighted the need for long-term stability to facilitate the country’s recovery and enable it to reclaim its pivotal role in the region.

The meeting was attended by members of the Kataeb Party’s Political Bureau, Zeina Hobeika and Ghassan Abou Jaoude, alongside Elie Rizk, a representative of the party’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambassador Barnes was accompanied by the embassy’s political advisor, Ben Craig.