Addressing the ministers at the beginning of the government session held in the Republican Palace, the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, confirmed that “the contacts that were held with the aim of stopping the military escalation, especially with US President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the results of the first meeting in the US State Department, in which Presidents Nabih Berri and Nawaf Salam were placed in its atmosphere, focused on a ceasefire and launching a negotiation path based on ending the state of war with Israel, its withdrawal from the territories it occupies, and the return of... Prisoners, the deployment of the army to the international border, and research into the outstanding points around the Blue Line. There are media outlets that dealt with this issue inaccurately and reported incorrect information, and contacting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not on my mind at all.” He continued: "This evening, a meeting will be held in Washington in order to extend the ceasefire, which also includes stopping the destruction of homes and attacks on civilians, places of worship, media professionals, and the medical and educational bodies. This is what the Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Nada Hamada Moawad, will bring to the meeting, and she will do everything in her power to obtain these items." President Aoun pointed out that “the positive aspect lies in the fact that for the first time, the Lebanon file is returning to the American table, specifically to the table of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who also holds the position of National Security Advisor, which opens the door for us, if things go as they should, in terms of restoring the economy, reconstruction, etc.... I hope that I will be able to visit Washington and hold a meeting with President Trump to put him in detail about the reality of the situation in Lebanon, as a phone call is not enough for such a matter and reaching an understanding, but he was sympathetic to Lebanon and declared that he loves this country, and this is what We must build on it for the future." President Aoun thanked "the brotherly and friendly countries for the humanitarian, health and relief aid they have sent and are still sending to alleviate the suffering of the displaced." He stressed that "the state will work to address the violations that occurred of the ceasefire, through the meeting that will be held today in Washington." He said: "I, as President of the Republic, am responsible towards my country and my people, and I will adopt any means capable of ending the war and destruction. I meet many Lebanese, including the families of the State Security martyrs who were martyred in the Nabatieh Palace. They insist that they are tired and want to end the wars that lead nowhere and do not achieve sustainable stability." He also presented to the ministers "the possibility of raising the transportation allowance for public sector employees, given the rise in oil prices due to current developments, in addition to granting them exceptional one-time assistance."