Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Raji, said: “I was pleased to meet with the ambassadors of Francophone countries in Lebanon, where we exchanged views on the challenges facing Lebanon and the opportunities available to it in the next stage.” He announced during the meeting that the framework agreement is not a final agreement, but rather a basis for starting the negotiations, indicating that its importance lies in establishing the independence of the Lebanese decision. Raji stressed the consolidation of the principle that the Lebanese state alone negotiates on behalf of Lebanon, stressing that this sovereign decision is a red line that we do not accept to violate. He explained that the Lebanese state went to the negotiations because it did not have the luxury of options, but rather proceeded from its national responsibility to save Lebanon and stop the war, while Hezbollah is still in denial about the facts and the magnitude of the cost incurred by Lebanon and the Lebanese. He stressed that confining weapons to the state is not only an external demand, but rather an urgent Lebanese need to establish a normal, strong and sovereign state, capable of protecting all its people, safeguarding their interests, and opening a new page of stability and prosperity.