The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized on Saturday the need to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip as a necessary step for restoring calm in Lebanon. During his meeting with Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament in Beirut, Borrell expressed his deep concern about the ongoing war in Gaza and its potential expansion towards Lebanon.
Borrell highlighted his apprehension about the Israeli escalation, stressing that the priority should be “to stop the war on the Gaza Strip as this is the gateway to restoring calm in Lebanon, and then it becomes easier to discuss the full implementation of the provisions of Resolution 1701.” Berri, on his part, appreciated the participation of EU countries in the international forces operating in the south (UNIFIL) and their role over decades as “witnesses to the Israeli violations and aggressions against the southern Lebanon and its people, as they do today.”
Berri reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and its related resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701, emphasizing that its implementation begins with Israel stopping its aggression and withdrawing from all occupied Lebanese territories. He also stressed the importance of accomplishing the presidential requirement independently of the repercussions of the aggressive war waged by Israel, revealing his readiness to cooperate with the efforts of the quintet committee to achieve this requirement.
According to the National News Agency, the meeting covered the general situation and political and field developments in Lebanon and the region in light of Israel’s continued aggression on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanese areas. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, during his meeting with Borrell, affirmed that any wide-scale explosion in southern Lebanon would lead the region to comprehensive devastation. Mikati emphasized Lebanon’s commitment to implementing United Nations Resolution 1701 and that its full implementation requires first stopping Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and withdrawing from Lebanese territories still under occupation. The Lebanese Prime Minister called for working towards a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue by granting Palestinians their rightful claims.
In the meeting, cooperation between the Lebanese government and the European Union in social, economic, and administrative reform matters was also discussed.
