Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that “there is no development without peace, and no peace without justice,” warning that wars and conflicts continue to block Lebanon’s path to stability and prosperity.

Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Aoun said a plan put forward by the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure the State remains the sole holder of arms aims to consolidate national sovereignty. However, he cautioned that “ongoing Israeli attacks and the delay in their withdrawal from the south are obstructing the completion of that plan and all efforts to preserve stability.”

“I stand before you speaking of peace and human rights while some of my people are being killed and parts of my land remain occupied,” he said. “If Lebanon falls, the alternative will inevitably be fault lines between every form of extremism.”

Aoun appealed for international backing, calling for an “immediate end to Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of occupation forces from our land, and the release of our detainees.” He also said Lebanon has a “humanitarian, moral and political duty to call for an immediate halt to the tragedies in Gaza.”

In his wide-ranging address, Aoun evoked Lebanon’s unique role as a pluralistic state in a region torn by religious identity conflicts. Citing late Pope John Paul II’s description of Lebanon as “more than a country; it is a message of freedom and pluralism,” he argued that the country’s collapse would destabilize the wider region.

“If Lebanon’s model collapses — if the Christian community or the Muslim community in Lebanon collapses — the balance collapses and the moderating force is lost,” he said. “If Lebanon falls, the alternative will inevitably be new front lines in our region and beyond, marked by various forms of extremism and violence.”

The president sought to assure the international community that Lebanon is “capable of keeping pace with the times,” pointing to reforms already under way.

“We have begun implementing a phased program for monetary and economic recovery, including transparent financial audits, fair banking restructuring, administrative modernization, and a fight against corruption and organized crime,” he said.

Lebanon, he added, has also launched “legislative modernization to strengthen the independence of regulatory bodies and the judiciary,” alongside efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Aoun highlighted initiatives to expand public freedoms, strengthen the role of women and youth in decision-making, and combat hate speech.

“Nations prosper only to the extent that they make room for the dignity of all citizens,” he said.

He also pointed to Lebanon’s recent ratification of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Law of the Sea, stressing the country’s “historical alignment with the international legitimacy system.”

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s call for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and praised the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate.

“We need to provide our armed forces with the necessary means to defend our territory,” he said.

He also cited the “largest displacement on its soil in proportion to population in history,” referring to the presence of Syrian refugees. He said Lebanon is working with the United Nations and regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, to reach agreements for the “safe and honorable” return of displaced Syrians.

Another burden, he said, is the reconstruction of areas destroyed by Israeli attacks.

“There can be no stability without the dignified return of our people to their homes and villages erased by the attacks,” he said.

Aoun closed his address with a direct appeal to the Assembly: “I speak to you now of peace while some of my people are being killed and part of my land is being destroyed. The conflict remains fierce between making Lebanon a land of life and joy and a platform for both in the region and the world, and making it a locus of death and a swamp of wars. We have chosen the first path and will enact it.”

“My appeal to you: for the sake of peace in our region and for the good of humanity, stand with us. Do not abandon Lebanon.”